Jurgen Klinsmann, coach of Ghana’s World Cup group opponents -the United States, has strongly defended his decision to reconfigure his coaching staff just three months before the tournament kicks off in Brazil.

With less than three months to go until the World Cup begins, US Soccer announced on Sunday that assistant coach Martin Vasquez would be transitioned to other duties, with U-20 national team coach Tab Ramos taking his place and former German national team manager Berti Vogts hired as a special assistant.

It is a big shake-up, with Klinsmann’s supposed tactical specialist and right-hand man being shown the door just three days before the final game before the preliminary World Cup roster is chosen.

How that affects what happens on the field is yet to be determined, but there is no question that the message has been sent: There are no loyalties when it comes to achieving the goal of success at the World Cup.

“It’s simply a professional shift,” Klinsmann said to the media on Monday afternoon.

“I have to make decisions with my staff to put them in positions where I think they’re best in order to hopefully do well this summer in Brazil. Sometimes it’s a shift that doesn’t please everybody, but this is part of the head coach’s role.”

Vasquez was Klinsmann’s assistant dating back to his days managing Bayern Munich, so his demotion may serve as a reminder that players who might feel their history with the USMNT provides a certain level of comfort should think again.