SEATTLE -- U.S. international midfielder Jermaine Jones sayshe thinks highly of new national team manager Bruce Arena and that his experience will be invaluable in the quest to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
On the day that Arena was officially announced as the new U.S. boss, Jones went the full 90 minutes in the Colorado Rapids 2-1 first leg defeat to the Seattle Sounders in Major League Soccer's Western Conference finals. Afterwards he said that Arena will bring some positive qualities to the job.
"Me and Bruce, we talked a couple of times," Jones told reporters after the match. "I have a bunch of respect for what he did with the [LA] Galaxy, or before with the national team. He has experience, and he will show that with the national team."
Jones, 35, did have some kind words for former manager Jurgen Klinsmann. Jones was a consistent presence during Klinsmann's time as manager, making 57 appearances during the World Cup-winner's five-plus years in charge.
"That's a part of the game," he said about Klinsmann's dismissal. "I think what I don't like is when I looked on Twitter from some media, how they reacted and how they pushed [Klinsmann's firing]. I think that's not nice.
"I think he did five years a good job, and at the end of the day, the president of U.S. Soccer Federation and they decide to go different ways with the coach. You have to respect that."