TORONTO (AP) — If Jurgen Klinsmann is pushing Michael Bradley to play better, the Toronto FC midfielder doesn’t mind.

The U.S. coach this week repeated his opinion that Bradley and Clint Dempsey accepted a less challenging level of opposition when they returned to Major League Soccer from European clubs. That sparked an angry response from MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who said Klinsmann should not criticize the league and defended its quality.

Bradley says “my record when I’ve played for the national team and my commitment and contribution is there for anybody to look at and take from it what they want.”

Bradley, 27, has made 91 appearances for the U.S. and was a key player at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.