Major League Soccer

MLS Playoffs: Donovan And Beckham Desperate To Take Advantage Of Final

Donovan and Beckham aren't about to let the experience of a cup final slip by them unappreciated.

Nov 20, 2009 11:46:22 PM

Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy, MLS (ISI)

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Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy, MLS (ISI)

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SEATTLE – David Beckham and Landon Donovan know a thing or two about winning titles. Donovan has three Major League Soccer Cups to his name and Beckham has won six EPL trophies and one La Liga title.

Instead of making them jaded, however, it's made them realize the need to savor the chance of medals when they arrive.

"I think the message that we want to remember and get across to all our guys is that these opportunities are rare," said Donovan on Friday in a press conference at Qwest Field ahead of the MLS Cup final against Real Salt Lake. "You want to take advantage of it. I don't think anyone's gonna remember in a few years if we got to the final and lost. They'll remember if we won. We want to take hold of this and grab it and win it."

Since winning the last of his MLS Cups in 2005, the U.S. international hasn't qualified for the playoffs until this year. Three years of watching the postseason on the television instead of playing in it has awakened the drive and desire in Donovan.

"For me, personally, this has been more rewarding than any of the previous trips to this point in the season," Donovan explained. "It's been challenging. It's been difficult for a few years here. In the past I was a little spoiled, and I thought getting to the playoffs and getting to this point was gonna happen every year. The reality is it takes a lot of hard work that you don't see when you're a young player. You don't realize it."

No longer a young player either, 34-year-old David Beckham agreed with his teammate. He looked back almost nostalgically to his past trophies and stressed savoring the moment.

"You play in a Cup final, it's exciting, the whole experience," Beckham chimed in. "You have to enjoy it, because the day goes past so quickly. So you have to enjoy the moment."

Enjoyable moments have been in short supply for the Galaxy over the last several seasons. Despite boasting the league's two highest profile players, the team heavily underperformed. Last year, LA finished with the worst record in the league (tied with expansion club the San Jose Earthquakes). This season, the team jumped from worst to first in the Western Conference and finds itself in the MLS Cup final.

So what has made the difference? Donovan has some theories.

"There's a few points that stand out to me," the 27-year-old mused. "One was having [head coach and general manager] Bruce [Arena] come in and just create stability, which we hadn't had for a while.

"And candidly, the second was David's reaction to everything that's gone on. Life is about choices. He could have come in and chosen to be something different than he has been. He chose to be a man and be want this team to be successful. Without him, we're not where we are. We can cut it any way we want, but that's the reality of it. He's been tremendous."

Now, both Donovan and Beckham sit one game away from adding another trophy to their collections. If they do, expect them both to savor it.

Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com

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