Did Jurgen Klinsmann Subtweet the USMNT Players About Fitness Level?

Say what you will about his ability to transform the entire American soccer landscape, but U.S. National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann certainly makes things more interesting from a media standpoint — mostly by his own choice. Last month, during the USMNT’s month-long training camp, Klinsmann groused about the fitness levels of the U.S. players following a 3-2 loss away to Chile on Jan. 28. The comments were chewed up and dissected at length in the media — triggering another set of questions over Klinsmann’s ability to lead the team for another four-year World Cup cycle.

Last week, Sporting KC defender Matt Besler talked about his fitness preparations with the Kansas City Star.

Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes, a former U.S. standout, also commented on Klinsmann’s fitness remarks, calling them “utterly ridiculous.”

Fast forward to Monday night and Klinsmann dropped this cryptic tweet to his 858,000 followers:

Just to clarify the fitness discussion: All players need to ALWAYS be prepared 100% to represent the USA! It is an honor to be on the #USMNT
— Jürgen Klinsmann (@J_Klinsmann) February 17, 2015

The target here is pretty obvious, right? The intention, however, is a little less obvious and could be interpreted as motivation. Or, maybe it’s yet another instance of the difference between Klinsmann’s European soccer education compared to what most American players experience during their formative years. Of course, there’s also the lingering criticism of Klinsmann from the 2014 World Cup that the team over-trained, leading to numerous injuries, notably Jozy Altidore.

From a soccer standpoint, the fitness comments and subtweeting will take precedence in American soccer circles and probably stir more (i.e. endless) debates over the status of MLS and its March-December calendar. The value of holding a month-long camp in early January or February will likely be debated less, even if more and more of the USMNT is comprised of MLS-based players. More practically, this is another version of the club vs. country debate, albeit with an American spin.

Besler isn’t wrong targeting peak fitness levels for the start of the MLS season in March compared to two mostly meaningless friendlies in a non-World Cup year. Klinsmann isn’t necessarily wrong for wanting his players at their best since he only has limited opportunities to work with the squad — never more so than the extended annual January camp.

What remains fascinating is that Klinsmann continues to put himself into the story of the UMSNT, whether it be dropping Landon Donovan before the 2014 World Cup, continually debating the merits of MLS or taking to social media during this latest fitness row. If you’ve won at the highest level as a player like Klinsmann, you don’t seem to care much what fans or media say about you, apparently. Whatever flack Klinsmann gets in American soccer circles pales in comparison to the heat he caught in charge of the German National Team and Bayern Munich.

If nothing else, Klinsmann never seems content leaving well enough alone, by speaking his mind in public. On the most practical level, the German-born World Cup winner best hope his players are at their peak fitness levels — and he’s devised a viable, coherent on-field system — come July and the CONCACAF Gold Cup with its ticket to the 2017 Confederations Cup looming.