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David Beckham Rips Landon Donovan As "Unprofessional"
As a book containing Landon Donovan's criticism of Beckham's late-season play last year is released, the England icon strikes back.
Jul 12, 2009 3:39:30 AM
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- David Beckham did not mince words about his Los Angeles Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan, who criticized the English player's commitment to the Major League Soccer team.
"It’s unprofessional in my eyes," said Beckham of Donovan's statements, and he didn't stop there. "In every soccer players' eyes throughout the world, it would be unprofessional to speak out about your teammates, especially in the press and not to your face."
Beckham sought to put his playing history in a specific context.
"For 17 years, I’ve played for the biggest teams in the world, I’ve played with the biggest players and icons of our sport and icons of our time, and the strongest and biggest managers in soccer and not once in 17 years have I been criticized for my professionalism," Beckham stated.
While Donovan apologized on Thursday publicly for not speaking first to Beckham about his thoughts, he said he did not take back the feelings he had about the veteran midfielder's play in MLS.
"It’s important this gets cleared up," said Beckham. "I’ll probably speak with Landon this evening or over the next couple days and it will be cleared up."
Though the two stars got along fine when they were scoring many goals together in early 2008, frustrations built when the team losses began to pile up and the Galaxy missed the playoffs.
Beckham did not believe that it was wrong for him to leave the Galaxy and extend his loan with AC Milan through the first half of the MLS season. "I’m sure if you asked every one of the Galaxy players or any player in this league or anywhere in many leagues, if they had the chance to finish the season with AC Milan, they would do that," he reasoned.
The book in which Donovan related his concerns last year also contains statements from other players on the Galaxy about how the team needed more leadership from their captain, but Beckham shrugged off that criticism as well.
"I’ve played for England for 13 years, and I've captained my country over 50 times and not one of those players, top players in Europe, have ever criticized me as a captain," Beckham stated. " I’ve always been known as a different captain than other players that I've played with. I’m not a Roy Keane or a Bryan Robson. I'm not a captain that goes and shouts at players. I'll talk to players, but I've played, personally by leading as an example. It's not all about me and organizing meetings."
As much as Beckham emphasized his commitment to continue with the Galaxy, he also made it clear that he hoped to return to AC Milan - and did not view that situation as incompatible.
"I want to go back to AC Milan in January," Beckham said. "I have to give myself the chance to be at that top level"
Apparently, England's coach Fabio Capello has insisted on a tenure with Milan as a prequisite for Beckham to be considered for the 2010 World Cup squad.
"The manager’s made it clear I have to be playing at that level to be involved," Beckham said.
The midfielder maintained he could again miss most of next season's games with the Galaxy on another AC Milan loan, participate in the World Cup, and then perhaps return to Los Angeles, where he said his family is happy to live.
"It’s not showing a lack of commitment to MLS," Beckham said of his desire to do whatever was necessary to play in another World Cup.
Andrea Canales, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
"It’s unprofessional in my eyes," said Beckham of Donovan's statements, and he didn't stop there. "In every soccer players' eyes throughout the world, it would be unprofessional to speak out about your teammates, especially in the press and not to your face."
Beckham sought to put his playing history in a specific context.
"For 17 years, I’ve played for the biggest teams in the world, I’ve played with the biggest players and icons of our sport and icons of our time, and the strongest and biggest managers in soccer and not once in 17 years have I been criticized for my professionalism," Beckham stated.
While Donovan apologized on Thursday publicly for not speaking first to Beckham about his thoughts, he said he did not take back the feelings he had about the veteran midfielder's play in MLS.
"It’s important this gets cleared up," said Beckham. "I’ll probably speak with Landon this evening or over the next couple days and it will be cleared up."
Though the two stars got along fine when they were scoring many goals together in early 2008, frustrations built when the team losses began to pile up and the Galaxy missed the playoffs.
Beckham did not believe that it was wrong for him to leave the Galaxy and extend his loan with AC Milan through the first half of the MLS season. "I’m sure if you asked every one of the Galaxy players or any player in this league or anywhere in many leagues, if they had the chance to finish the season with AC Milan, they would do that," he reasoned.
The book in which Donovan related his concerns last year also contains statements from other players on the Galaxy about how the team needed more leadership from their captain, but Beckham shrugged off that criticism as well.
"I’ve played for England for 13 years, and I've captained my country over 50 times and not one of those players, top players in Europe, have ever criticized me as a captain," Beckham stated. " I’ve always been known as a different captain than other players that I've played with. I’m not a Roy Keane or a Bryan Robson. I'm not a captain that goes and shouts at players. I'll talk to players, but I've played, personally by leading as an example. It's not all about me and organizing meetings."
As much as Beckham emphasized his commitment to continue with the Galaxy, he also made it clear that he hoped to return to AC Milan - and did not view that situation as incompatible.
"I want to go back to AC Milan in January," Beckham said. "I have to give myself the chance to be at that top level"
Apparently, England's coach Fabio Capello has insisted on a tenure with Milan as a prequisite for Beckham to be considered for the 2010 World Cup squad.
"The manager’s made it clear I have to be playing at that level to be involved," Beckham said.
The midfielder maintained he could again miss most of next season's games with the Galaxy on another AC Milan loan, participate in the World Cup, and then perhaps return to Los Angeles, where he said his family is happy to live.
"It’s not showing a lack of commitment to MLS," Beckham said of his desire to do whatever was necessary to play in another World Cup.
Andrea Canales, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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