I made the quick trip over to Carson this afternoon for a press conference featuring two of the three or four most important guys in U.S. soccer — Galaxy forward Landon Donovan and Galaxy coach/general manager Bruce Arena.

(I mean, really, who else are straws that stir the soccer drink the way those guys do? The country’s best player, the country’s best coach, unless Bob Bradley can keep up the good work … Who else belongs in here as U.S. Soccer Elite? One of the goalies? DaMarcus Beasley? Clint Dempsey? Carlos Bocanegra? Have any of those guys sold any tickets, over the years?)

Landon is just back from Germany, where he was on loan to Bundesliga superclub Bayern Munich. And he had some interesting things to say about the process, about MLS and being back home.

First, another digression. Bruce Arena is so happy to have Landon back that … well, I thought he might weep. Actually, no, it’s almost impossible to imagine Bruce Arena weeping. But … yeah. Landon being a guy who plays and scores, as opposed to the still-absent David Beckham, who mostly is about hot air and hype and endorsements and the occasional nice dead-ball strike.

“One of the building blocks of our team is now here,” Arena said. “I think it’s absolutely critical to have Landon and his quality.

“This time we expect him to not only do what he does on the field, we’re asking him to do a little bit more, and be the leader of the team  and do the things off the field that are necessary to make us a good team on the field, and I think Landon certainly wants to do that.

“I’ve said this many times, we think in Landon we have the best player in MLS. So we’re absolutely thrilled seeing him on the field today. Sometimes you don’t appreciate what Landon offers. When he stepped on the field today, he was all business, he was all quality, and well-respected by his teamates and demonstrated all the qualities that we strongly believe he has and will continue to have and be even better. So this is a great day for the L.A. Galaxy to have Landon officially here. We knew Landon would come back at some point but until he’s actually in L.A., you can’t say that. So we’re quite excited and I know our fans are going to be excited to see him on the field.”

Highlights of Donovan’s comments:

–Even if he had the chance, he would not do what David Beckham is doing — staying in Europe until the end of the season and returning past the halfway point of the MLS season. “I would not, that is not a decsion I would take,” Donovan said. “I personally wouldn’t feel it would be fair to this team to show up midseason and have to try to integrate. I would want to  be here from the beginning. so even if the scenario came up where they asked if i wanted to stay longer to the end of the season, I would have said I would want to go back and start the season here. … But David has different thoughts of what he wants to do.  So if that’s what he wants, then I want him to do that, too. I’m happy for him. In my situation, that’s not something I would want to do.”

–He expects that his third stint in Germany (the first two came when he was young, at Bayer Leverkusen) will also be labeled a bad experience. “I know the tendency is to think it was a failure because things didn’t work out in Germany but I think it actually was a very good experience,” he said. “I think if I was (contractually) free at the end of this year, if I was free now, I think things would have turned out a lot differently. I think it became an economic matter in a lot of ways.”

–European soccer is every man for himself. “The word I think of with a lot of the circumstances and team environments in Europe is ‘selfish.’ And it’s not a bad thing. It’s just the environment that has been created. That can be a good thing, too. But there’s something nice about feeling a part of a team and feeling completely respected. It just gives you confidence and makes you play better.”

–He would like to give Europe another try. Probably. “What the future holds, I don’t know,” he said. “I’m going to take some time and think about  it. My gut says that if there’s a good opportunity that I would still like to try it, but that might change. Right now, I’m kind of taking some time to think things through and we’ll say where that ends up.”

(A serious issue: Donovan’s contract gives the Galaxy the option to retain him through the 2011 season, and if the club/MLS continues to demand a high transfer fee (rumors are, up to $10 million) it seems unlikely he will be sold to a team in Europe before 2011 — at which time he would be 29. Without a transfer, all he can do is try to go on loan to a team — as he did with Munich.)

–He feels the experience in Germany helped him as an athlete. “I’m clearly a better player,” he said. “I feel better, I feel more confident. Having played with those guys, it’s hard not to get better playing at that level every day. I think that’s going to help me a lot. Not only in short future, in the long-term future, too.”

–Players he encountered not only were not contemptuous of Major League Soccer, several seemed interested in playing in MLS someday. “I was surprised by how many people asked me about MLS,” Donovan said. “Usually, the older guys were asking questions, thinking it might be in their future, the near future, to consider coming here. And it was very interesting to see how interested they were. Everybody loves America and they know that, in some ways, they see what David has become and what he earns and what he is here and they think that’s for them, too. I was kinda managing expectations and letting them know it’s not that way for everybody, but they were very interested and some seemed very excited about coming. It was good to see.”

–The biggest difference between MLS and the Bundesliga are the expectations and the pressure. “What was interesting was how different the media is there, and the fans, and the pressure that mounts. In some ways that’s good and in some ways that’s bad. At the moment, in America, we don’t have that. I think we will get there someday where there’s similar pressure. There’s small amounts of that here, but there it’s so intense and it was very eye-opening. And I also gained a lot respect with how everyone deals with it there, and it’s not easy by any means.”

Here is the transcription of the press conference. I’ve typed it in. I don’t know how many of you will want to wade through it, but that’s what the Web is about, right? Just scads of raw info.

Donovan, opening remark: “I’m very excited to be back. I had a good time in Germany. It was a very interesting experience for a lot of reasons, some good, some bad. A lot of learning. It made me certainly appreciate having teammates and having people that you’re familiar with, comfortable with, enjoy being around. I enjoyed a lot of the players and staff and people in Munich but there’s a feeling here, having been around these guys for a long time, that’s different. It was nice to be back in the fold today. Very exciting.”

Did Germany help him, and how did his experience there impact his future marketability? “I’m clearly a better player. I feel better, I feel more confident. Having played with those guys, it’s hard not to get better playing at that level every day. I think that’s going to help me a lot. Not only in short future, in the longterm future, too. I can’t really worry about what my marketability is or my value is or what future might hold at this point. The only thing I can control right now is being here and making this team better, I genuinely feel passionate about that.  And I want to make that happen. It’s been a long time since this team felt that way and I want to make that happen this year.”

Why did he want to go? “You always wonder if you’re capable of playing at that level, and it became clear quickly that, one, I was and that, two, I enjoyed it. But there is something distinctly different about the environment here, the environment that’s been created more recently now. And it’s something I enjoy and something I appreciate being involved in. It’s the same with the national team when you go in. I think it’s an American mentality that there is more dedication to being a team. The word I think of with a lot of the circumstances and team environments in Europe is ‘selfish.’ And it’s not a bad thing. It’s just the environment that has been created. That can be a good thing, too. But there’s something nice about feeling a part of a team and feeling completely respected. It just gives you confidence and makes you feel better.”

What did he notice that was different about the Galaxy? “There’s definitely a different feeling, as far as the players go. It’s hard to judge in a day. … The chemistry, the vibe feels good, but the ultimate will be stepping on the field and winning games. I’m looking forward to that.”

How about David Beckham not coming back as originally scheduled? “David like all my teammates, I want the best for him, and he’s made it very clear that he wants to be there. In that circumstance, I’m happy for him. However, from the Galaxy’s standpoint it makes it quite difficult because I know from Bruce’s standpoint, he’s trying to build a team and it makes it difficult now to do that because of this situation. From David’s perspective, I’m happy for him. For the team, it would be nice to be able to move on now and figure out what’s going on now, but that’s the situation that is created now, and we’ll welcome David back when he comes. Like I said when he first came here, as long as he’s committed to helping this team win and giving his all, then he’s still a world-class player and we want him on the team.”

On his reaction to a statement by Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge that Donovan would be the team’s No. 4 forward, and the club would be better served with a youngster there, so they would not likely to be keeping him. “Before I read that, maybe much like all of you guys, I had no idea that that’s where they stood. At that point it was still open to what’s going to happen next. Obviously, in any environment, any professional environment, you’d like someone to speak to you directly. So that was a little disappointing. I subsequently heard from them, through Juergen (Klinsmann, the coach) afterwards, that that was their decision and they weren’t going to move forward (with Donovan). But clearly in that circumstance it would have been nice to hear directly from someone.”

Knowing how things turned out, would he still have gone to Germany? “Yeah, I would have, because the experience was priceless. As far as the results went, it wasn’t ideal, for the team and the coaches and the club. But I learned a lot more in that scenario than I would have otherwise and I’m very glad I went.”

Early in his stay, in Germany, he was quoted as saying it would be “sad” if he left Munich to go back to Los Angeles. “That was asked in German, and every time I read it I was like, geez. The word I used in German would be ‘disappointing,’ and to write ‘sad’ seems like it’s a bad thing, so. There’s really not disappointment. I wished … the only thing I really wished would have happened is I wish I would have had a chance to start a game because I think I’m most valuable in that circumstance. It’s hard, always hard, to come in for a few minutes and make an impact. I have a lot more appreciation now for being a substitute and be fighting for a spot every week in a team because it’s something you don’t take for granted but you get used to. So that was definitely a positive learning experience. But that was the one scenario I wish I would have had to take avantage of. But other than that, I was given a lot of chances to play and I’m very grateful for that.”

Bruce Arena, asked about the 2009 Galaxy: “We have I believe half of our roster from the players of last year. It’s impoirtant that early in the season we stick together. The one consistency from last year to this is that Landon’s here, and he can be a leader. I think we’ve brought in a lot of players that given time are going to be fine. We need to be patient. We have some very good young players and the only way they’re going to get better is by playing, and when things don’t go right, we have to be behind them in support. That’ll probably happen in the early going. That’s part of the problem. I’ve read a lot of people complaining we’ve brought in an old team. Oddly enough, that’s not even close to being the case. We’re going to have a number of young kids playing in important roles, and to get the kind of confidence they need and the support they need the leadership of the players on the field and off the field. That’s where Landon can continue to make his mark. We know he will continue to be a fine player on the field. If he can add some qualities off the field and in the locker room, and assume that role, that’s considerably different than he’s been asked to do consistently in the past, and if he’s able to do that he’s going to help us move the team along in good fashion.”

Landon, asked if he would skip the Gold Cup or the Confederations Cup, both of which are this summer: “You have to ask Bob (Bradley, national coach) that. My guess would be that he’ll keep that in mind with guys who are going to miss a lot of (MLS) games. … I don’t necessarily have a preference but, yeah, that’s a question for Bob.”

Arena, asked if Donovan would be the Galaxy captain again, with Beckham absent: “It’s his first day back and that decision has not been finalized, but I would say it’s pretty warm. You’re gettin’ hot actually.”

Landon, on recent Galaxy failures. “More than leadership, from one guy, two guys, three guys, we need an environment here that brings that out of everybody, and I think that’s what we’ve been lacking. We have moments the last few years when guys have made leadership moves from week to week but the overall envronment hasn’t been good enough and challenging enough where it makes everyone better. And your best teams around the world have many, many quote-unquite leaders on the field. Look at Man United, and I bet you’ve got a lot of guys getting on each other at different times and making sure that things are right. And that’s what we need. Whatever happens with the captaincy is Bruce’s decision. I’m going to act the way I’m going to act, regardless. That’s now, that’s tomorrow, that’s June, that’s September.”

Did European players look down on him, as a player, because he is American? “I never got the vibe that there was an arrogant European thing there. On the contrary, guys were very respectful. On the field, you have to earn your respect and I learned that quickly. If you make plays and do things to help them out, then you earn their respect and they become a little more friendly, a little nicer in the locker room and they respect you more. Those things I did relatively quickly and I was proud of that. When I say ‘selfish’ I say it because that’s the word that comes to mind, but it’s not a negative thing. It’s just the environment that’s created and the enviroment they’ve been in their whole life. That’s from the media, from the fans, it creates this environment. It’s not that it’s not good, but there is a feeling, and (American) guys who play in Europe will tell you this when you come in with the national team, there’s always a feeling of the American mentality, whether you’re in the lineup, not in the lineup, you’re disappointed, but you care first and foremost about the team doing well and that’s the same here, and that’s something as an athlete maybe more than anything I appreciate and enjoy.”

When he joined the Galaxy from Germany in 2005, he said he considered it highly highly unlikely he would go back to Europe. What changed his mind? “I would guess that most people in their life from 22-23 to 27 changed a lot, and I certainly did. I do see soccer in a different way now than I did then and I wanted the opportunity to go and see what it was about from a new perspective. And I was a lot different when I was younger and didn’t have the appreciation I have now, and I was excited about that opportunity and I was glad I had a chance to experience it.”

Would he like another crack at Europe? “What the future holds, I don’t know. I’m going to take some time and think about  it. My gut says that if there’s a good opportunity that I would stil like to try it, but that might change. Right now, I’m kind of taking some time to think things through and we’ll say where that ends up.”

Would he go back to Germany? “I know the tendency is to think it was a failure because things didn’t work out in Germany but I think it actually was a very good experience and I think if I was free at the end of this year, if I was free now, I think things would have turned out a lot differently. I think it became an economic matter in a lot of ways. I really enjoyed being in Germany, believe it or not. I went with an open mind, with a different mentality and Munich was incredible. The people were great, the players were very nice, I have a newfound respect for that country as a whole. I really enjoyed it.”

Does he have a different view of MLS? “I don’t have a different view of MLS, but I have a different view of soccer in Europe. Someone asked me a similar question in the Q&A I did and what was interesting was how different the media is there, and the fans, and the pressure that mounts. in some ways that’s good and in some ways that’s bad. At the moment, in America, we don’t have that. I think we will get there someday where there’s similar pressure. There’s small amounts of that here, but there it’s so intense and it was very eye-opening. And I also gained a lot respect with how everyone deals with it there, and it’s not easy by any means.”

Did players ask him about MLS? “I was surprised by how many people asked me about MLS,” Donovan said. “Usually, the older guys were asking questions, thinking it might be in their future, the near future to consider coming here. And it was very interesting to see how interested they were. Everybody loves America and they know that, in some ways, they see what David has become and what he earns and what he is here and they think that’s for them, too. I was kinda managing expectations and letting them know it’s not that way for everybody, but they were very interested and some seemed very excited about coming. It was good to see.”

And the current Galaxy squad? What is it like to deal with the dropoff in talent from Munich? “I’m excited to be here. There’s no hesitation, there’s no frustration, I genuinely want to help every guy here get better and make this team better. Obviously when you’re at Bayern Munich it’s one of the best clubs in the world so there’s gonna be extremely talented, good soccer players. You go to any other team in Germany, there would be a dropoff in that sense. I didn’t have any of that and I don’t think I will. I want to make sure that guys are getting better. What you get here in America, you get everyone’s best effort every day and that’s not necessarily always the case in Europe and it’s nice to have that, so you can’t blame guys for that.”

His favorite moment in Germany? “The best memory was our game against Dortmund, and I only came in I think in the last 15 minutes, but the energy in the crowd that night was incredible. I think it was a first home game since being back from the break, and we were knocking on the door all night and it was 1-1 and I felt like I had a real impact on the game. I didn’t score or have an assist but I felt like I had a real impact. And to win at the end was incredible. It was kind of an ‘aha!’ moment, just how amazing that can be.”

Arena, on whether he wished U.S. media would be as tough on soccer teams as they are in Europe: “I think actually the media is very critical. I don’t think they’re right all the time. Oddly enough, most of the reporting of games in this country is criticism of what we do, whether it’s the league, team, coaches, what have you. I find that kind of interesting. Certainly not the same pressure-packed situation we see in Europe but we have a fairly negative press in terms of the game. I wish it would be more positive, but I’m used to it. I’m used to the situation with Landon. My wife threatens to leave me all the time but just stays around for economic reasons … Would we love to see a pressure-packed environment week in and week out and demanding on our teams? Sure. It would be great if we had promotion and relegation, all of those things. One day we may see that, in this country. But I think certainy we have a way to go before we are like the great leagues in Europe.”

He noted his favorite moment. Was there a bad moment in Germany for Donovan? “There wasn’t a lot of bad. The results, and there was about a two-week stretch where the results were bad, and it became almost depressing around the club for a week or so. A team like that is not used to losing back to back games or back to back to back games or losing at home to a team that just got promoted, so it made you realize just how emotional it is from week to week. It was eye-opening. There’s no time for a club like that to look long-term and say, ‘OK, we’re getting somewhere, we’re getting better just because we happened to lose this game.’ It’s very harsh in that sense, where from week to week things are very up and down.”

Arena, on how he sees Donovan expanding his leadership role: “He wants to take a vested interest in helping some of our younger players around here. I think he’s better suited now to talk to a young player who’s a little bit down and hasn’t been able to get on the field and the players who have limited roles and he just experienced that a little bit himself, and understanding where they’re coming from and preparing themselves mentally and physically for different roles on the team, and to have a leader who can go to young players, even veteran players, I think that’s important, and caring, and having a real way about how you handle yourself every day in front of your team. Step in the locker room and mean business. We’ve really made great improvements since last year with our locker room, and I think Landon now stepping in at this time, it’s icing in the cake because he’s a much smarter and experience player now than he was last year because of the experience he just had. If he can do that, it’s phenemomenal. I felt that, besides the fact that we were limited as a team  last year in terms of our abilities and our talents and our ability to win games, we had a major void in leadership. We’re turning a lot of responsibility over to Landon as well as other players, Eddie Lewis, Chris Klein, Tony Sanneh. I think these are players ready to step up. We’re asking a lot of Landon but I think it’s something he’s capable of doing.

Arena, on MLS interest in Europe. “You’d be very surprised at the players who are interested in coming here. And there are players who Landon played with that I’ve been in contact with over a couple of  years. I think as this league grows over the next 5-10 years there’s gonna be a lot of players who are gonna be coming over here at times when they can still really contribute on the field and be very good players, not just players who have a year or two left in their career. I think you’re going to see that.”

If he were in Beckham’s position, would he do what he is doing? Stay in Europe and return late to MLS? “I would not. That is not a decision I would take. I personally wouldn’t feel it would be fair to this team to show up midseason and have to try to integrate. I would want to be here from the beginning. So even if the scenario came up where they asked if I wanted to stay longer, to the end of the season, I would have said I would want to go back and start the season here.”

So, did Beckham show the Galaxy a lack of respect? “I don’t see it that way. Everybody’s different, right? That’s my opinion of what I would do. But David has different thoughts of what he wants to do.  So if that’s what he wants, then I want him to do that, too. I’m happy for him. In my situation that’s not something I would want to do.

Did his Bayern Munich teammates follow the Beckham situation? “Some of them were fairly aware of what was going on. The Italian guys … would always have kind of a say from what their media was saying in Italy and it was interesting to talk to them about it. Most guys didn’t really care, to be honest.”

Did he grow as a person? And how? Did he change? “I did learn a lot about myself as a person. I’ll leave it at that. … I’m not sure I wouldn’t have changed if I hadn’t gone. But I’m continuing to grow as a player, a person and a professional. I would like to think this experience helped expedite getting me to where I want to be, so for that I’m very grateful. … I feel like I’m going on a path to where I want to be, whether it helped me 3 percent or 10 percent, it’s helped me get to where I want to be, and I feel that already, just being back a few days.”