Though he was originally planning to go into the April 2 friendly against Mexico with a 22-man roster, United States Men’s National team coach Jürgen Klinsmann will now be forced to game plan for a team of 20 players since two of his key figures were not granted release from their full-time club. Winger DaMarcus Beasley and defender Michael Orozco will not make an appearance for the United States during Wednesday’s friendly because Liga MX affiliate Puebla will not allow the USMNT duo to freeze their club duties in order to participate in the international friendly. Upset that his veteran national team talents will not be present, Klinsmann said that this decision by the Mexican side is unacceptable.
“We got notice from Puebla that they don’t release DaMarcus Beasley and Michael Orozco, which we’d planned on and we are very angry, very angry about this because the Mexican clubs release all their players for this very prestigious friendly,” Klinsmann, who took the reins of the USMNT in 2011, said in an interview with Univision recently. "For us, World Cup kind of coming up, it's very important. And a team that doesn't play in the CONCACAF Champions League next week, Puebla, which we have a lot of respect for, but they don’t release our two players which are very important players to us -- it makes us upset.”
The reason Puebla will not release Beasley and Orozco becomes clear when you look at the current Liga MX standings. Currently sitting last in the 18-team table, the two-time Mexican Primera Division champions are fighting for survival in Mexico’s top flight and due to their pressing roster needs, the club didn’t feel comfortable releasing two players with just four league contests remaining. Continuing to make final preparations ahead of the April 2 showdown from University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Klinsmann wrapped up his talk with Univision by saying that when situations like this happen, teams in Mexico and abroad always let their players fulfill national team duties.
“We are very disappointed in the decision by Puebla,” said Klinsmann. “When the match was scheduled, it was with the spirit that both teams would have access to their domestic-based players for what is a very important game for those competing for spots in the World Cup. Both MLS and most clubs in Liga MX honored that idea. While we understand their position, it's a huge opportunity lost for DaMarcus and Michael and doesn't contribute to the continuation of this respected rivalry.”
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