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Jurgen Klinsmann on DeAndre Yedlin

Tough words from the boss.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Last night, the United States men's national team drew with New Zealand in Washington, D.C. It was a listless, boring match featuring a B/B+ roster, but Jurgen Klinsmann is still going to assess certain players based on their performance (as he should).

One player of interest is Newcastle United's DeAndre Yedlin. Klinsmann's assessment was less than positive:

Many were quick to observe that Klinsmann did the 23-year old Seattle native no favors by playing him at winger instead of the preferred fullback:

It's important to note that Klinsmann could be attempting to motivate the young player. His comments might not be leading to future exclusion, but instead serve as a gentle reminder that it could happen. Every spot is up for grabs, nobody's job is safe, [third coaching cliche].

The U.S. begins the final round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying next month, starting with heavy hitters Mexico and Costa Rica. Is there a chance that Yedlin is left off the roster? Are there better fullbacks in the program? He's still one of the best 23 American players (in my opinion), but he could be staying in England (depending on your interpretation of Klinsmann's comments). Time will tell.

Is Klinsmann giving Yedlin a warning or motivation (or both)? Let us know in the comment section.