LA Galaxy striker Landon Donovan has said that he wants to work hard in order to regain his position within the United States national team. The 31-year-old recently returned from his self-imposed sabbatical from the game.
He has stated that constant football in the last few years have taken the pleasure of playing the game from him. As a result, he needed some time off from the game in order to find his love for football. It sparked several rumours that Landon Donovan may not continue playing football.
US national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann also suggested that he will be the final authority when it comes to deciding whether Donovan returns to national team action or not. LA Galaxy manager Bruce Arena, though, has been supportive of the 31-year-old by saying that he will be considered for selection as soon as he returns back. After having returned following a four-month absence from football, Donovan has said that he is ready to play in his national team spot, while he is also heavily motivated for playing football.
Donovan has admitted that he almost went into retirement following LA Galaxy’s victory in the MLS cup final last season. Donovan currently holds the record for the most number of goals and assists for the national team.
“I have a long way to go and a lot of work to do. But if given the opportunity, I would love to play for the U.S. and I would love to represent my country again.
Unfortunately, we have a sort of stigma that being in a different mental place is not acceptable. We should pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and fight through it and all this. It’s my job to earn my way back in. And that’s what I’m motivated to do,” said Donovan after returning to LA Galaxy.
