Music: {allcanada} Bernier not bitter about Gold Cup omission

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

{allcanada} Bernier not bitter about Gold Cup omission

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Toronto FC coach Ryan Nelsen recently called him the best Canadian player in Major League Soccer, and one of the most consistent midfielders in the league.

He's also a big reason why the Montreal Impact sit atop the Eastern Conference standings, and are poised to qualify for the playoffs in only their second MLS season.

And yet, Patrice Bernier was left off of Canada's squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which runs from July 7-28 across the United States. Interim Canadian coach Colin Miller unveiled his 23-man team last week, and conspicuous by his absence from the roster was Bernier.

Programming alert: Watch every game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup live on Sportsnet World and Sportsnet World Online | TV schedule

Bernier, a native of Brossard, Que., has established himself as one of the best midfielders in MLS since signing with Montreal prior to the 2012 season after spending eight years playing in Norway and Denmark.

He's also been a loyal servant to the national team, scoring two goals in 49 appearances for Canada since his debut in a friendly against the Czech Republic in 2003. But his last game for his country came in September of 2012 in a World Cup qualifier in Panama. Since then, he hasn't featured for Canada a single time, including in Canada's five friendlies this year.

So, it hardly came as a shock to Bernier when he wasn't named to Canada's roster for the Gold Cup.

"It wasn't a surprise at all," Bernier told sportsnet.ca.

Bernier explained that he knows that the national team program is headed in a new direction, with veterans being pushed aside so that younger players can develop in time for the next World Cup qualifying cycle. At 33, Bernier has had to make way for a new crop of Canadian prospects who are getting their chance.

"They're going in another direction, and they don't see me in that picture. That's that," he said.

Bernier is okay with this, and he's not bitter about being phased out. But he does feel that those in charge of the national team should have reached out and told him what was going on, instead of letting him come to the conclusion on his own that his services were no longer required.

"It would have been nice to get a phone call. I think (former Toronto FC captain) Jim Brennan had the same thing happen to him when they stopped calling him after he had been on the team for many years," Bernier explained.

It's worth noting that Miller called Dwayne De Rosario, another national team veteran who is in the same boat as Bernier, to explain to him why he wasn't selected for duty at the Gold Cup. Bernier didn't receive a similar call.

"You either retire (from the national team) or they're not calling you back, so it's not a big deal. It's just that for all the years you played (for Canada), maybe somebody could have called you and tell you officially that they're going in a different direction," Bernier offered.

Canada's loss is Montreal's gain, as the Impact will be able to continue to field Bernier in their starting lineup for a series of important games in July, including Wednesday night's contest versus TFC at BMO Field.

"I don't live in the past, and for me, it might be more of a relief because I can concentrate on my pro career," Bernier stated philosophically.

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That being said, he's has no plans to announce his international retirement, and is leaving the door open to returning to play for Canada if the opportunity presents itself.

"If they do call one day, then I'll go. I'll be at home waiting. But it's no big deal if they don't. And I want to wish those young players and the rest of the team the best of luck," Bernier said.

He later added: "I'd like to play more for Canada, but that's life."