USA Coach Jurgen Klinsmann looks forward to tomorrow’s friendly with Italy, but admits he has a different code of ethics to Cesare Prandelli.
“We are here to compete and to learn,” said the former Inter striker ahead of the Wednesday evening kick-off in Genoa.
USA Coach Jurgen Klinsmann looks forward to tomorrow’s friendly with Italy, but admits he has a different code of ethics to Cesare Prandelli.
“We are here to compete and to learn,” said the former Inter striker ahead of the Wednesday evening kick-off in Genoa.
“Playing against people like Gigi Buffon, Daniele De Rossi or Andrea Pirlo is a great opportunity for growth.
“The Italian team is very strong, one of the best who will be taking part at Euro 2012.”
Klinsmann was asked whether he would act the same way as Prandelli, who dropped Mario Balotelli and Daniel Pablo Osvaldo for picking up suspensions at club level for reaction fouls.
“I don’t know if I would do the same thing. It’s true he has a group of 35 players and has to eventually choose 23 and clearly wants the squad to all be working in the same direction.
“Mind you, we have Jermaine Jones who was suspended for eight games in the Bundesliga. I called him anyway for two friendlies, because the incident did not seem particularly serious to me.”
Schalke 04 star Jones was banned after he stamped on Borussia Monchengladbach man Marco Reus and fractured his foot.
Klinsmann has been in charge of the USA squad since July and hoped one of his former adversaries could make the trip to America too.
“I can tell Alessandro Del Piero that the MLS is wonderful. It is growing and becoming stronger every day, plus the United States has some wonderful cities.”