CARSON, Calif. — Stress sent Josh Saunders into a difficult place, and some time away from everything was necessary for him to get back into the right frame of mind.
Saunders said as much after he returned to training Tuesday, having spent nearly four weeks away from the LA Galaxy as he enrolled in the league’s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Program.
“I’m happy to be back, excited to be back on the field and be back with my friends and teammates,” Saunders said. “I’m still going through a bit of a process right now, but I hope to be back soon.”
WATCH: Saunders returns for LA
While he trained with the club, he said he has “no idea” when he will be eligible to play. He is ineligible to play in either Wednesday's game against San Jose or Saturday's match at Houston.
“I’m still doing some classes and stuff,” he said. “I’m going back. There is some unfinished business here. I want to be back soon, but I want it to be under the best of terms.”
Saunders helped lead the Galaxy to an MLS Cup title last season, supplanting Donovan Ricketts along the way. His play was strong enough that the club dealt Ricketts away to Montreal in the offseason, paving the way for him to become the fulltime starter.
But stress — not drugs or alcohol — forced him to leave the Galaxy just before the club was set to face FC Dallas on April 28.
“I was under some stress and I was putting myself under a lot of pressure and I just needed to step away,” he said. “There are obviously a lot of stories floating around. It’s unfortunate that some people were taking it and blowing it out of proportion before they got a chance to talk to me but i was under some stress, had some family issues and wanted to deal with it on my own.”
While he hopes to get back to the Galaxy and get back to training, games and the day-to-day grind of being a professional athlete, Saunders also said he has to make sure he is well enough to cope with his off-the-field life.
“We’re humans,” he said. “We have a life outside of soccer and people forget that. I’m a person, first and foremost i have to take care of my family and myself.”
Luis Bueno covers the LA Galaxy for MLSsoccer.com and can be reached by e-mail at buendoad@gmail.com.
