Jurgen Klinsmann says he's '1,000 percent sure' the USMNT will make the 2018 World Cup
Jurgen Klinsmann's job as USMNT coach and technical director is in serious doubt after consecutive defeats in World Cup qualifying to Mexico and Costa Rica. The German coach isn't worried about it though, saying he's '1,000 percent sure' the U.S. will make Russia 2018.
"It’s important to put this in the right perspective," Klinsmann told Reuters. "We lost the two opening games and played the two best teams right away. We have eight more games to get the points needed to qualify. We’ve always reacted strongly when things were nerve-wracking.
"This team is always capable of reacting. We’ll correct this with the two games in March and we’ll take one game at a time from there to get our points. I’m 1,000 percent sure we’ll qualify."
Despite the immense pressure on his shoulders fresh off two abject performances, some questionable tactical decisions, and concerns over his leadership, Klinsmann remains confident.
He maintained that 2016 was a solid year "except for the finish."
"When things go slightly wrong, there are some people who come out and are ready to chop your head off," he said.
"In the long run, that’s going to make the development of the team difficult. It’s important to stay calm and be patient. There are definitely issues to be addressed but there is no reason to exaggerate them or panic."
He went on to elaborate, "I’ve been doing this for 35 years and there are always many reasons why certain things happen, both positively and negatively.
"It’s important to have the end result in mind. And the big picture is the overall development of the team in the four-year cycle between two World Cups. You have to be ready to take some setbacks during that phase."
Klinsmann said the team would win at least 15 points from the next 24 points available in the next eight games, although it's no guarantee that haul would put the U.S. in qualifying position. In 2006 World Cup qualifying, 15 points would have only be good enough for fifth place in the Hex and fifth place does not go to the World Cup.
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