Don Garber lashes out at Jurgen Klinsmann, calls MLS criticism 'incredibly damaging'
Things took a personal turn on Wednesday as MLS commissioner Don Garber angrily refuted recent comments from US National team manager Jurgen Klinsmann.
Klinsmann, one-time consultant for Toronto FC, was critical earlier in the week of the decisions by Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley to play in MLS.
"I made it clear with (Dempsey's) move back and (Bradley's) move back that it's going to be very difficult to keep the same level that they experienced at the places where they were," Klinsmann said.
Of course, Dempsey joined the Seattle Sounders after a one-year stint with Tottenham, and Bradley signed with Toronto FC following one-and-a-half seasons at Roma.
Looking to defend his league, Garber hit back at Klinsmann on Friday, referring to the manager's comments as "damaging to the league" and "personally infuriating," while also "demanding" that he refrain from making comments that are critical to national team players and MLS.
"Sending a negative message to any player - and obviously to U.S. players - that signing with MLS isn't going to be good for their career or good for their form is incredibly detrimental to MLS," Garber said.
He added: "I believe what he's saying is that the players that have come back - (Bradley) and (Dempsey) specifically - have seen their form diminish because of their move to MLS. I don't believe that is true at all."
Garber then proceeded to take a swipe at Klinsmann for his decision to omit Landon Donovan from the United States' World Cup squad, a decision that continues to be met with criticism despite the team emerging from an incredibly tough group before falling to Belgium in the round of 16.
"I believe that (Donovan) should have been in Brazil," Garber said. "Because his performance dictated it ... His treatment was inexcusable. To think that we are not aligned with our national team coach is disappointing and personally infuriating, frustrating as hell. And frankly I don't think it is in line with the shared vision that this league has with the (US) federation.
"Without the League, the US player pool would be diminished. It is just patently untrue that if you play in Major League Soccer it will affect your form. I will do everything and anything to defend our league, players & owners ... I think (Klinsmann) needs to think very hard about how he manages himself publicly."
It should be noted that 10 of the 23 players that Klinsmann summoned for the World Cup were MLS-based.