The Official Site of Landon Donovan

Mon, Jun 1st 2009, 12:25

LA prepares for Donovan departure

The Los Angeles Galaxy are about to deal with a problem that has proved to be inescapable for the past several years: playing without Landon Donovan.

Their captain and leading scorer will embark on what could be a month-long absence because of duty with the U.S. men’s national team. Donovan will be available for Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Wizards at The Home Depot Center, but then will be off for World Cup qualifiers on June 3 against Costa Rica and June 6 against Honduras and then two weeks in South Africa, where the U.S. will take part in the FIFA Confederations Cup. The USA, drawn into powerful Group B, have games against Italy on June 15, Brazil on June 18 and Egypt on June 21. The tournament runs until June 28.

Donovan could miss as many as the next four Galaxy games after Saturday, and the 27-year-old admitted to having mixed feelings about leaving with the Galaxy (1-1-8) on an eight-game unbeaten streak and making strides under head coach Bruce Arena.

“It’s always bittersweet,” Donovan said of his impending departure, “especially because we’re playing well. I want to be here, but it’s also exciting. I’ve never been to South Africa, and obviously the (World Cup) qualifiers are going to be fun games.

“We’ll be fine while I’m gone. Bruce has done a great job, we understand what we should be doing and the guys know what’s expected. Now we just have to go do it.”

Donovan attributed his optimism mostly to an improved defense led by goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, fourth in MLS with a 0.88 goals-against average, and a better defensive mentality.

“That’s something we didn’t have in the past,” Donovan said. “I know we’re going to be in games. We have guys who have creative abilities, we defend well and we’re going to be competitive.

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