Clint Dempsey admitted this week at MLS Media Day that it was his own choice to sit out the January US Men’s National Team camp to continue to rest up for the 2016 MLS Season after Jurgen Klinsmann gave him the option to come to this camp or not.

This marks the second consecutive camp missed by the Seattle Sounders forward after he wasn’t called up for the November hex round for 2018 World Cup Qualifiers as they were taking place right at the end of the season as his team was battling to advance in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Last year, Dempsey scored nine goals in 10 appearances for the red white and blue following a hamstring battle almost all of the 2015 season. This will give him ample time to rest and prepare for the 2016 MLS Cup season along with the March round of qualifiers.

Dempsey Speaks On His Choice

“He sent me a text during the World Cup qualifiers before that camp letting me know that he wasn't going to call me in, and at the same time have a look at some of the new and younger players," Dempsey told ESPN in an exclusive interview that aired this week.

“It's something you've got to do. You've got to make sure you're always preparing for the future and making sure you're doing what's right to put yourself in a position to be successful. In terms of the January camp, he sent me a text again, asking is this something I wanted to do or did I need a little bit of more rest. And for me I wanted to build a little bit slower going into the season, especially with the injuries I had last year. I want to make sure I have a good foundation. You hit the ground running."

Dempsey understands that he isn’t a young gun anymore, turning 32 this season and that he has to be smarter about how he manages his stamina with the grueling long MLS season the begins training this weekend and could possibly run all the way through the first weekend in December if the Sounders were to advance all the way MLS Cup. On top of that the forward has to take into account additional 2018 World Cup qualifiers for the national team along with the Copa America tournament.

Even with missing this camp, Dempsey made it no secret during the interview with ESPN that he is hoping to play in this summer’s Copa America Centenario tournament that’ll run from June 3rd to June 26th with MLS taking a short break during the group stages.