MLS boss rips Klinsmann for criticizing league

Major League Soccer president Don Garber fired back at critical comments by US national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann about the league and its impact on players.
Klinsmann addressed the decisions by US standouts Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley to return from Europe to play in the North American league this week by saying they would have to prove the switch has not diminished their skills.
Garber called those remarks "incredibly damaging" to MLS.
"I'm demanding that he refrain from making comments that are critical of our players and damaging to our league," Garber said.
"Jurgen's comments are very detrimental to the league. They are detrimental to the sport of soccer in America. Not only are they detrimental, they are wrong."

Klinsmann noted that Bradley has returned to play for a Toronto club that will miss the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season.

"Making that decision to go from Roma, a Champions League team, to now Toronto, a team that it seems like they're not even qualifying for the playoffs, it's a huge disappointment," Klinsmann said.
"You adjust yourself to whatever environment you are in, so he had to adjust to the environment he's with in Toronto, instead of maybe an environment that plays Champions League football.It's down to him and his environment to see what level he is capable to play."

Klinsmann also touched on Clint Dempsey's move from the English Premier League to the MLS Seattle Sounders.
"I made it clear with Clint's move back and his move back that it's going to very difficult for them to keep the same level that they experienced at the places where they were. It's just being honest," Klinsmann said.