Quote:
Sorry for Statements, Suarez rejoins Chivas USA
CARSON, Calif. -- Just two weeks ago, Claudio Suarez was officially retired. He told multiple Spanish-language outlets that he was through with Chivas USA, that he had been asked to play for peanuts and questioned the identity of the club.
On Saturday, he apologized.
Suarez took back his words and said he had spouted off in moments of anger and frustration. He eventually recanted his comments but more than that he made his way back into the squad. Suarez re-signed with Chivas USA on Friday and was back in the good graces with the club.
Actually, club president Shawn Hunter said he never was on the team's bad side.
"I don't pay attention to that," Hunter said. "It's pretty easy not to. ... Anytime you go through a decision-making process over one of the most impressive careers in the world, not just in North America, and his contributions to the game, you are going to go through some emotions. I didn't take that personally nor did Stephen (Hamilton), so that's why it was so easy to sit down with Claudio. When he called we said absolutely and sat down with him and worked it out pretty quickly."
Neither Suarez nor Hunter discussed whether a formal offer was made before or how much money was offered for Suarez's services. Suarez, though, blamed a lack of communication for the breakdown in negotiations and the subsequent fallout.
"I made a mistake in not showing the club respect," said Suarez, who was placed on the injured list and will not be available for at least the first six games of the MLS season.
Among the things Suarez said was that the club was losing its identity. Francisco "Panchito" Mendoza returned to his native Guadalajara to play for Chivas while the negotations with him dragged on.
"I felt like that, the fact that Panchito left the club and the state of my own negotiations I felt the team was changing its identity," Suarez said. "But in the end the proof is on the field, with the signings of Eduardo Lillingston and Mariano Trujillo. I made a mistake in having made those comments."
Hunter had told Suarez during the offseason that a possibility of a future expanded role with the club existed, which might have played a role in the two sides coming to terms in a quick manner.
"I told him months ago to keep the door open, to think about this because it was a life-change decision," Hunter said. "When he called this week ... we sat down and rather quickly came to an agreement."
For his part, Suarez said he had received a "very good offer" from a Mexican team but said he wanted to play for either Chivas USA or nobody. He said he wants to keep his family in Los Angeles and wants to live in Los Angeles. "I have a greater responsibility now," he said. "After everything that happened, I have to prove my worth and show that I'm physically capable of playing."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com
CARSON, Calif. -- Just two weeks ago, Claudio Suarez was officially retired. He told multiple Spanish-language outlets that he was through with Chivas USA, that he had been asked to play for peanuts and questioned the identity of the club.
On Saturday, he apologized.
Suarez took back his words and said he had spouted off in moments of anger and frustration. He eventually recanted his comments but more than that he made his way back into the squad. Suarez re-signed with Chivas USA on Friday and was back in the good graces with the club.
Actually, club president Shawn Hunter said he never was on the team's bad side.
"I don't pay attention to that," Hunter said. "It's pretty easy not to. ... Anytime you go through a decision-making process over one of the most impressive careers in the world, not just in North America, and his contributions to the game, you are going to go through some emotions. I didn't take that personally nor did Stephen (Hamilton), so that's why it was so easy to sit down with Claudio. When he called we said absolutely and sat down with him and worked it out pretty quickly."
Neither Suarez nor Hunter discussed whether a formal offer was made before or how much money was offered for Suarez's services. Suarez, though, blamed a lack of communication for the breakdown in negotiations and the subsequent fallout.
"I made a mistake in not showing the club respect," said Suarez, who was placed on the injured list and will not be available for at least the first six games of the MLS season.
Among the things Suarez said was that the club was losing its identity. Francisco "Panchito" Mendoza returned to his native Guadalajara to play for Chivas while the negotations with him dragged on.
"I felt like that, the fact that Panchito left the club and the state of my own negotiations I felt the team was changing its identity," Suarez said. "But in the end the proof is on the field, with the signings of Eduardo Lillingston and Mariano Trujillo. I made a mistake in having made those comments."
Hunter had told Suarez during the offseason that a possibility of a future expanded role with the club existed, which might have played a role in the two sides coming to terms in a quick manner.
"I told him months ago to keep the door open, to think about this because it was a life-change decision," Hunter said. "When he called this week ... we sat down and rather quickly came to an agreement."
For his part, Suarez said he had received a "very good offer" from a Mexican team but said he wanted to play for either Chivas USA or nobody. He said he wants to keep his family in Los Angeles and wants to live in Los Angeles. "I have a greater responsibility now," he said. "After everything that happened, I have to prove my worth and show that I'm physically capable of playing."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com
i knew he retired...i didn't know he said any of that tho... eek
