Wynalda Warns Donovan about Germany

LOS ANGELES -- Though Eric Wynalda probably thought that his stint in Germany as a Bundesliga player for Saarbrucken in 1992 might open the door for other Americans to follow in the path he forged, few from the U.S. now ply their trade there.

"It's a tough place to be," Wynalda told Goal.com.

The news that Landon Donovan, considered by many the top U.S. field player, was training with Bayern Munich left Wynalda more cautious than optimistic.

"Let's wait and see how it goes," Wynalda stated of Donovan's chances to impress the club. "It'll be the first time in his career where every day will matter, which will hopefully be the best thing that's ever happened to him. Because lets face it, it's always been a given, no matter how he practiced or played, that he'd play here."

Wynalda considered Donovan's connection to Bayern Munich coach Juergen Klinsmann a considerable bouns. It is unclear if the two are close, however. While Klinsmann was the Galaxy's technical advisor at one point, it was before Donovan joined the club in 2005.

"Klinsmann is his greatest asset right now, mainly because he can introduce him to the group a little differently than in other circumstances," Wynalda explained.  "They all know who he is, or they've heard something about him."

Klinsmann himself criticized Donovan for returning to MLS in 2006 instead of sticking with Bayer Leverkusen, the team that had signed him when he was sixteen. Yet it was also Klinsmann who made the call to arrange Donovan's short trial with the club.

"Ten days is three days of adjustment and six days of actual practice and trying to figure out if you fit in," Wynalda pointed out. "The real challenge is something that will have to be earned, and that's the respect of everyone around him."

There were various ways Donovan could earn respect from the disciplined Germans, Wynalda speculated.

"It might a little pass, or a tackle. It will definitely be something in the first few days. There will be a defining moment."

A few words of wisdom were shared from Wynalda's experience in the tough-tackling league.

"What advice would I give him? Jump. Jump and run fast. You're fast, move fast and jump as high as you can when they try and hit you."

--Andrea Canales, Goal.com