'I never said I wanted to leave' - USMNT candidate Pellegrino Matarazzo slams 'false statements' about rift between coach and Hoffenheim squad

Following the sacking of Gregg Berhalter from the USMNT, US Soccer has been on the lookout for a new coach and they have been reportedly holding talks with Matarazzo. However, there have been reports of a rift among the Hoffenheim squad and claims that the coach is eager to leave the Bundesliga side, which he has refuted.

Speaking to the media, Matarazzo refuted claims of the rifts, he said: "These are false statements. I never said that I wanted to leave our club. Anyone who watches me during training and games will notice that I am fully here. I am the coach of TSG Hoffenheim with full presence."

Hoffenheim forward Andrej Kramaric refuted all the claims made by the media and backed Matarazzo. He said: "The reports in the media about alleged problems between the team and our coach are simply a lie. It's not just me who absolutely supports Rino, but the whole team."

The Hoffenheim coach will lead his side on August 10 when they take on Fulham in their final pre-season friendly before they begin the new campaign with a DFB-Pokal clash against Wurzburger Kickers on August 16.