VIDEO: Jurgen Klinsmann press conference after CONCACAF Cup loss

Hit the jump for a full transcript of Klinsmann’s press conference:

Opening statement: First of all, a big, big thank you to the crowd tonight. An unbelievable atmosphere. I don’t know how many U.S. supporters we had. It was an incredible experience. It was full of emotions, it was full of intensity as we said before and just a big thank you to all of the fans. To create that type of an atmosphere was special. Compliments to Mexico to win the game, compliments to coach Ricardo Ferretti to win the CONCACAF Cup. I think it was an open game until the very, very end when you’re kind of thinking, how do we prepare the penalty shootout? Then they hit you with that volley and leave you there. So I think the game was very even, especially the first half, I think we had enough chances to score a second or third goal. I think the second half belonged more to Mexico and I think we turned it around in extra time. At least it was our feeling that we were closer to the third goal than Mexico was but they scored that third goal so again, congratulations to them.

Considering U-23 loss on Saturday as well, the state of U.S. soccer: A loss is always difficult to swallow, especially when there’s a lot at stake. It means you have to be working harder than you ever did before in order to run the results around to where you want them and make things happen. The Olympic team, they have to go the tough route. They have to beat Canada on Tuesday then they have to qualify against Columbia. We have to get our group together and rethink the next couple of months. Obviously we’re going to go into World Cup Qualifiers in November and we have to sit together and discuss things. Who we’re counting on, how we want to build toward the next couple of games because there’s not a lot of time because World Cup qualifier is World Cup qualifier for both teams, for Mexico as well. Obviously there will be a lot of conversations coming up in the next couple of days.

On subs, DeAndre Yedlin and Bobby Wood: They definitely brought a lot of elements to the game. Obviously you want to surprise the opponent a bit. I considered them early on but to start a game like this, tonight, it’s a lot of weight on the shoulders of players. When you look at younger players you kind of look at them and think it’s better to bring them off the bench so they don’t overthink the situation and it worked for both. Obviously after Bobby’s goal, there was a thought to bring on Wondo, but we stopped that because Nick Rimando is the best penalty blocker that you can have in this whole region. That thought kind of went out the drain when Fabian Johnson said he can’t go anymore. And that was a real bummer because we had the feeling that momentum changed. We had it. And I was very optimistic that if it ends 2-2 or if we score the third goal, but if it was 2-2 and we went to penalty shootout, it would have been a good consolation, but it didn’t end that way. But to go back to your question, DeAndre Yedlin and Bobby really gave life to the team.

On positives from his team: I think they showed a lot, a lot of character. They showed tremendous effort and they went all the way through and gave it everything they had on the field. When you’re on the losing side, it hurts, it’s normal. It takes a couple of days to swallow a pill like that but I told the guys, heads up because we gave everything we had. Coming back twice against Mexico and playing very, very openly was impressive.

On if there’s a technical difference between Mexico and the United States: No, I don’t think so. I think our players can score even those goals like the third one on our given day. Clint Dempsey can do something like that, even Jozy. But they scored that goal. So, no, I don’t think there’s a difference in any way, but they scored it.

On what he says to people questioning in job security: I don’t need to say anything to them. As I said before, everybody can express his opinion. Not everybody likes you, that’s totally fine. I’m not here to be liked. I’m trying to do a good job. I’m privileged to have this role and to represent the U.S. soccer program. It’s a privilege for me. I do my best to my capabilities and I leave the judgements out there to you guys or to people who want to express themselves. That’s fine.

On progress of U.S. soccer program: I don’t want to make any excuses for what happened in the Gold Cup but what happened in the Gold Cup was heavily influenced by referee decisions, that’s why we had this game tonight. We didn’t win this game tonight because they scored the last goal two minutes before the end of the game. Obviously it was a bummer to see the Olympic team not win today as well. You can have your own impression when you look back at what we did, what we went through and there are only positive moments. 2012 great year, 2013 great year, 2014 got out of the group of death, and now we have a tough one this summer. That’s part of it, but I leave that up to you guys, you guys can have your own opinions.

Did he expect to absorb so much pressure: Expecting maybe. We knew that they were coming again, so we said, let’s be as compact as possible there. But what we didn’t do well in the second half was simply keep the ball. We ran a lot after it, we won a lot of balls, but we couldn’t combine. We couldn’t calm the game down enough. That was a struggle really to go through the second half, we should have done better.

On missing out on extra tournament play: You miss out on a big opportunity there being in Russia in 2017, which now Mexico will participate in. It gives you the chance to learn about the infrastructure, to learn about very good teams, definitely an advantage to prepare for that world cup, no doubt about it.

On the players over 30 years old, including DaMarcus Beasley, Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman: When you mention these three, outstanding. Outstanding. It’s not the time to talk about individual players, where they are right now with this program. But you just have to give them a huge compliment. There’s no reason to cut the cord with any of these guys, it’s not necessary. But it’s our responsibility at the same time to give fresh blood more opportunity. To give fresh players like a DeAndre Yedlin, Gyasi, a Bobby Wood opportunity to break in and an open fight for the spot. I think the team gave everything they had and they deserve a compliment.

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