TORONTO – Jozy Altidore is back with his club and eager to put his last match with the US national team behind him.
Altidore, Toronto FC’s new Designated Player striker, was sent off in Tuesday’s friendly for using a few choice words directed at referee Luca Banti after he first saw yellow for a foul on Switzerland’s Francois Moubandje. And without Altidore, the Yanks conceded late once again in what ended as a 1-1 draw.
After the match, Altidore issued an apology, saying “emotion got the best of me and I put our team in a tough position. That’s not the type of role model I want to be.”
Altidore took the time to address the ejection – which US manager Jurgen Klinsmann called “unfortunate” – after returning to TFC training on Thursday in preparation for Saturday’s away match against the Chicago Fire (3 pm ET; MLS LIVE).
“[Klinsmann] just said it’s a learning experience for you, and he knows I can do better,” Altidore said. “I know that for myself, too. It was a bit of a moment where I lost my cool, and it was one of those moments you wish you could take back.
“It is what it is,” Altidore added. “Nobody’s perfect, and I’m no different. I care a lot about that team. I always want to win, and I always want to help the team improve. It was a bit of a setback, but it’s nothing I can’t handle, and I look to move on.”
Altidore said he wasn’t sure what his status would be for the USMNT’s next match, April 15 against Mexico, but for TFC head coach Greg Vanney the red card wasn’t much of a concern.
Quite the opposite, in fact, as Vanney highlighted the silver lining of the incident.
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“I didn’t see the challenge initially, so I don’t know a whole lot about it,” Vanney said. “He was frustrated, and I think that comes from a lot of different places. The way I look at it is it’s unfortunate for the US but good for us. He got 24 minutes of extra rest. We’ll take it. He comes home healthy and with a good mind set to play this weekend.”
The return of both Altidore and USMNT teammate Michael Bradley will be most welcome for a Toronto FC side that has been shorthanded as of late. And TFC will be hungry for some points, especially after slipping late in Sunday’s game against Real Salt Lake, a 2-1 loss.
It was a match Altidore said he and Bradley both watched in Zurich.
“I was screaming at 4 am in my hotel room in Zurich,” Altidore said. “I watched the whole game, and it was difficult. I thought the boys played well, and we deserved something out of the game. But unfortunately, sometimes some things go not our way at this point. But there was some good starting points we can carry on from on Saturday.
Needless to say, Altidore is eager to get back on the field.
“With all due respect to Chicago, it’s a good team, but it’s a good time to play them and a good time for us, with everybody back now,” Altidore said. “It’s a different type of opponent, a different kind of game. They’ve struggled as of late and got their first win last weekend. For us, if we can put all the pieces together slowly, the result is there to take.”
