HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — New U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann says Major League Soccer must have a longer season to become competitive.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday night’s exhibition against Ecuador, the former German national team star says MLS players do not get enough games in their season, which lasts from mid-March until late November, including the playoffs. European seasons run from mid-August until mid-May.
Says Klinsmann: “The big challenge is for MLS overall, how can they stretch that season into a format that is kind of competitive with the rest of the world. Right now it’s not competitive.”
He says if a national team player in MLS wants to take more than three weeks off, he’ll “give him a hug” and tell him: “Don’t come back here.”
