As the summer rolls around and the U.S. Men’s National Team gears up for next month’s Copa America Centenario, Hertha Berlin coach Pal Dardai has again come out and expressed his displeasure in centerback John Brooks over his plans.
The 23-year-old defender is set to miss the beginning of Berlin’s preseason due to the conflict with Copa America, followed by a three-week break the American will be taking after the tournament’s conclusion.
Brooks has been named to Jurgen Klinsmann’s initial 40-man roster ahead of the tournament and looks to be included in the final 23-man team which must be announced by May 20.
Last summer, Brooks missed a portion of the club’s preseason while with the USMNT at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Brooks started in 22 matches this past season for Hertha, however, he didn’t feature for the team until the 12th week of the Bundesliga campaign.
“The situation is a bit unfortunate,” Dardai said.
“It’s like last year, when John missed parts of the preseason because of the Gold Cup,” Dardai added. “I hope John returns in a top state, and then he’ll play. If his fitness is not that great, he won’t play. We’ve got a trusting relationship and talked about it already. He’s in the know.”
Hertha Berlin is coming off of a seventh-place finish in Bundesliga this season, which earned the club qualification to next year’s UEFA Europa League. The team will enter the competition in the third round of qualifying, which begins on July 28.
The Copa America begins on June 3, when the U.S. takes on Colombia, before Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad closes out Group A play against Costa Rica and Paraguay.
Screw Hertha Berlin! Their manager should focus on why they choked away the UCL spot. #Merica
Oh shut up, manager. So tired of the anti-American b.s. in soccer.
Seemed like a routine complaint, nothing more.
Any word on when the 23 will be announced? deadline is Friday and seems like most everyone else has already done so.
knowing USSF, it’ll get submitted 11:59pm tomorrow.
He has every right to complain. last year Brooks missed time for a real tournament this one is just a money grab during an off year.
Last I checked, all tournaments are money grabs. There’s a reason the Gold Cup is always played in the US. The Copa will be a big stage. It will get much more fan and media attention than the Gold Cup. And it will open doors for players who show well.
You are witty.
Not a real tournament? I don’t get this attitude, this is the biggest international soccer tournament the US has hosted since the ’94 World Cup. And despite initial grumbling from the South American teams, they appear to be bringing their A teams, aside from Neymar who is playing in the Olympics. This is the first (and maybe last) time the US will get to compete in something resembling the Euros. I’m pretty sure the players are taking it this seriously. Dempsey for one cited playing in this tournament as motivation as far back as 2014.
You get occasional moronic comments like this from club managers who act like they’ve never heard of international football and get indigent about it. I get that clubs pay players wages but this is part of the game.
Keepin’ it 100 …I too would “get indigent about it” if a player I coached put me in such a state. LOLZ
Way to put undue pressure on a young player who just wants to represent his country in an international tournament. Yes, I know that Hertha is the one paying his salary, but Copa is taking place at the same time as the Euro. It’s a good bet that JB will play in most of the games, which means he will be match fit. Ok, so he may have to take a couple of weeks off to get a break before the season starts, but this seems like a jerk move. I doubt this would be an issue if JB was playing in the Euro.
Would he say that about a player on Germany in the Euros? If he had stayed on at Hungary would he want his players club managers bagging on them for playing for Hungary?
the Copa ends a week and half before the European Championship… sounds like Hertha is starting their pre-season a little too early – deal with it Pal!
more interested if Brooks and Johnson are 100% healthy.. both have been off and on in the end of the season and often injured. When healthy those two are game changers.
FJ is not 100%, groin issue. Cameron is also not 100% with a hammy issue. both need to be rested and not played against PR. no reason to risk it.