Gulati: Klinsmann's future in question if USMNT crashes out of Copa America
U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati says Jurgen Klinsmann's time at the helm of the United States Men's national Team could be over if the team crashes out of the Copa America Centenario in the group stage.
The German boss has endured a rough spell of results since the 2014 FIFA World Cup, failing to secure a spot in the 2015 Gold Cup final and hitting a few road bumps in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying.
After losing 2-0 to Colombia to kick off the Copa America Centenario, Gulati says Klinsmann's future as the manager of the Stars and Stripes could be decided by the next two matches.
"Results are what matter - everyone understands that," Gulati told a select group of reporters, according to ESPN FC. "The results over the last 18 months, overall, have not been what we would've hoped for, especially in the official competitions.
"It's the official competitions that matter the most, and we haven't been up to where we'd like to be. We'll look at everything at the end of this competition. I don't get too high or too low based on one game, especially when it's a game against a very good team.
"So, we'll wait and see how the next two games go and hopefully some additional games after that before we assess where things are."
Gulati: "The reality is the business we’re in, you don’t get to see through many long term goals if you don’t hit short term goals." #usmnt
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) June 7, 2016
Klinsmann has a chance to right the ship on Tuesday night as the U.S. takes on Costa Rica in the second group-stage match of the Copa America at Soldier Field in Chicago, and Gulati will be watching.
"My expectation is certainly to win tonight and to win on Saturday (against Paraguay) to get through," Gulati said. "A heartbreaking third place doesn't do the trick."