“I don’t necessarily agree with Sunil’s vision, but Sunil and I go way back, and I think he’s a real good person and he’s going to be a good president. He’s a competent person, and if my remarks infer that he’s not competent and a quality guy, that’s wrong. It’s the same with U.S. Soccer. Those guys treated me great for eight years, and I have no hard feelings. My comments sound like sour grapes, and it’s wrong. As I look at the text of some of the things I’ve said, I think they’re absolutely inappropriate and distasteful.”
— Former U.S. coach Bruce Arena tells Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl he regrets certain things he said in interviews with SI.com Aug. 15 and the New York Times Sept. 12 that included several jabs at U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati, who fired Arena after his team exited the 2006 World Cup in the first round. (SI.com)