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Beckham And Donovan Brush Aside Travel Worries
Goal.com
The Los Angeles Galaxy has played the last three games away and will play three out of the next four away.
In all sports, but in Major League Soccer especially, winning at home is much easier. With the cross-country travel, the weight on the legs from flying and unfamiliar pitches, nabbing away points is difficult. However, the Galaxy has earned seven points from the last three away games (one of which was at its home stadium, the Home Depot Center, but listed as away as Chivas USA technically hosted the match).
Having helped push the team up into third place in the Western Conference, David Beckham and Landon Donovan waved off worries about the lengthy traveling required of the team in the next month.
“I don’t think it’ll take any effect on the team,” declared Beckham. “I think we’ve had it all season with international players going away and coming back. The squad players have coped with it really well, where as in the past maybe we’ve not been able to cope with it so well. We’ve got players that come in and keep the momentum going.”
United States international Donovan was slightly more hesitant, but still optimistic.
“Traveling and playing teams this time of year is difficult because generally there’s bigger crowds, the games mean more,” Donovan explained. “With David coming now they’re definitely going to be up for these games and we’re playing the better teams in the league. It’s going to be an important stretch for us but we think we’re ready for it.”
The 27-year-old relished the chance for the team to prove its playoff credentials. The Galaxy has missed the postseason the last three years, but, with 11 matches remaining, is very much within a shot of making it in 2009.
“We’ve been building all year and we think we keep getting better,” Donovan said. “But now is the time we find out what we’re made of. We’ve got a lot of road games coming up, difficult road games, and it’s either going to distinguish us as a playoff team or not.”
Midfield partner Beckham agreed with the need to capitalize on the next few games, especially because the Galaxy has been in such good form.
“We need to continue,” Beckham said. “There’s no point in winning the last few games and not going on and moving and taking a few steps back. So it’s important that we continue the hard work because that’s what’s got us in the position we’re in now. We’ve got a good squad of players, good togetherness and we need to continue that.”
LA plays the New England Revolution in Gillette Stadium on Saturday, August 8. The following Wednesday (August 12), both Beckham and Donovan will likely have to travel out of the country for international duty before returning August 15 for the game against Seattle Sounders FC.
