Clint Dempsey would like to return to the US national team, but says he’s at peace with his USMNT career if he never gets another international call.
The Seattle Sounders forward spoke with SoundersFC.com’s Steve Zakuani about the USMNT’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and his illustrious national team career, saying he’d like to return to the national team if called in the future. The 34-year-old is tied with Landon Donovan for the all-time USMNT goal record with 57 career strikes.
“We’ll see what happens. I mean, in terms of what I’ve been able to accomplish with the national team, I’m at peace with it,” Dempsey said. “It’s not really about me. It’s about a group of guys that want to be moving forward. If there’s an opportunity that comes where you get to play a role and try to help and I’m feeling good and I’m playing well, then yeah you’ll never say no. But you know, if the call never comes, I’m still happy, still at peace and focused on being here and trying to make the most of the time I have left.”
It was reported earlier this week that Dempsey, whose contract was set to expire at the end of the year, agreed to a new deal to remain in Seattle through 2018. The Sounders are currently preparing to take on the Houston Dynamo in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship series on Tuesday at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Watch Dempsey’s extended USMNT comments here:
“We need to be better."@clint_dempsey opens up in this exclusive interview with @Zakuani11 on the U.S. not qualifying for the World Cup. pic.twitter.com/xTyvp9KCAl
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) November 17, 2017
