CHESTER, Pa.—Four years ago, after the United States national team blew a 2-0 lead and lost to Mexico, 4-2, in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati fired head coach Bob Bradley. 

Four years later, despite the U.S. having its worst Gold Cup finish in 15 years after falling to Panama in penalty kicks, Gulati said it would be a mistake to conclude that because Bradley was fired after a Gold Cup loss that Jurgen Klinsmann should be as well.

“No, I don’t think that’s a reasonable assumption,” Gulati told reporters in the mixed zone after the U.S. finished fourth in the tournament. “I don’t make judgments based on one game. We don’t go in and renew a contract because we beat Germany and Holland away from home and we don’t make a change here. There’s no parallels at all."

Prior to losing to Jamaica Wednesday in the semifinals, the U.S. was on a nine-game unbeaten run which started with a road draw against Switzerland and included wins over Mexico and the European victories Gulati referenced.

Of course, the U.S. also struggled in the group stage in the Gold Cup, eking out one-goal wins over Honduras and Haiti—games in which the U.S. were often outplayed—and tying Panama. 

Despite Gulati saying there are no parallels, in the 2011 Gold Cup the U.S. played poorly in the group stage as well, including a loss to Panama, the Americans’ first-ever loss in the competition to a CONCACAF team other than Mexico.

One thing in Klinsmann’s favor is the U.S. won the 2013 Gold Cup (though Bradley did the same thing in 2007), which earned it a spot in October’s playoff versus the winner of tomorrow’s final for a spot in the 2017 Confederations’ Cup in Russia.

Gulati, who called the Gold Cup “a critical competition,” and Klinsmann have both made qualifying for that event a huge priority as it is a key World Cup tune-up. But Gulati wouldn’t say that Klinsmann has to make it to the Confederations Cup to keep his job.

“No, let’s get past today, Gulati said. "We had a disappointment today. I’m not gonna speculate on stuff that’s three or four months away when we’re not sure who we’re playing and where we’re playing. I’m not sure if we lose the second game in qualifying in the Hexagonal what we might do either.”

Gulati also refused to say that the worst Gold Cup showing since Bill Clinton was president was a sign the team was moving in the wrong direction.

“It’s obviously a disappointment. I wouldn’t call it a step back. The team’s been playing well in the spring coming into the tournament,” he said. “The goal was obviously to win the Gold Cup and not have a playoff game. But we’ve got a reprieve in the sense that we won the last one so there’s still a chance to go to the Confederations Cup.

"So there’s no panic. We’ve won what, seven of our last 10 games?"

That said, when pressed, Gulati did say the performance was a bit of a setback.

“Any time you don’t win it’s a setback of sorts. But when you win, it’s a step forward. But a setback to what? We’re not going to win every game. So that means every team in the world has a lot of setbacks in that world," he said. “I’m happy with parts of that, I was very happy beating Germany and Holland, back to back. Less happy about losing to Jamaica and drawing Panama today. So there’s mixed results straight through. This was a big result… so that’s a disappointment.” 

Gulati was asked where he’d like to see the Confederations Cup playoff held. Published reports have said if Mexico wins tomorrow’s final the playoff will be in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Oct. 9 and that it will be at an East Coast U.S. venue if Jamaica pulls the upset. He said while the U.S. has input, the final decision for the venue will be decided by CONCACAF.

“Columbus would be good,” he said with grin, adding that Kansas City, where the U.S. last beat Jamaica would be ideal, too. “So Kansas City or Columbus would be good but I don’t think it will be either of those. “

Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.