Jurgen Klinsmann has hit back at new Swansea City boss Bob Bradley’s claims he was “jockeying” for the USA manager job in 2010.
Bradley made the claims during his first press conference with the Swans after he was announced as Francesco Guidolin’s replacement last week.
The USA boss, who took over the side in 2011 after Bradley’s departure, has denied the claim, saying he could have taken the job in 2006 – when he reportedly couldn’t reach a salary agreement with U.S Soccer – or 2010 when Bradley kept his job after the international side progressed to the round of 16 in the World Cup.
“It’s simply not true,” Klinsmann said, as reported by NBC Sports.
“I could have taken the job in 2006, I could have taken it in 2010 and then we got together again in 2011 and we figured out a way to make this happen so I was not jockeying anything.”
Bradley said in the press conference how he believes he was harshly treated by the USA when he was dismissed in 2011, but would continue to support the team as he wants to see them do well.
“From the day I got fired by the U.S., I have not said one thing publicly about their team, alright? I don’t appreciate the way it was done – I think they made a mistake. I’m glad that Jurgen says some nice things now. When he did commentary on the 2010 World Cup, he was already jockeying for the job,” he said.
“So I’ve shut my mouth, and continue to support the team. Because I of course want to see the team do well. Michael’s the captain. So if he has said something in a nice way, I appreciate it. And if at some point he chooses to try to work again outside the U.S., I wish him the best.”
Bradley’s Swansea take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium after the international break for his first taste of Premier League action as he aims to prevent his side from suffering a fourth consecutive defeat.
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