David Beckham has won over Milan but might not face Manchester United - 7M sport

David Beckham has won over Milan but might not face Manchester United



Posted Sunday, February 14, 2010 by theguardian.com

David Beckham has won over Milan but might not face Manchester United
Milan's David Beckham is uncertain whether he will make it off the bench to face Manchester United in the forthcoming tie.

"Without a doubt, it's one of the biggest games for me. I've never had to do it before like this but I don't think it will be a problem," says David Beckham of the match of his dreams – his first game against the team he will always support, Manchester United.

Beckham's beloved United, for whom he played until 2003, are in Milan for the first leg of the opening Champions League knockout round on Tuesday, and he cannot wait. And forget the emotional attachment: Beckham wants United to lose. "It's great, but this tie's not just about me going back to United or ­playing against United," he says. "It's about Milan qualifying for the next round and that's the most important thing. I hope we do."

The last time they met, in 2007, Milan won easily, recovering from a 3-2 ­deficit in the semi-final first leg to triumph 3-0 in the second. Milan went on to win the trophy, and United and Sir Alex ­Ferguson need no reminding of that ­disappointment and he is adamant there will be no repeat. "After the experience in the San Siro three years ago, where they dominated the game, I know that won't happen again," he says. "You have to recognise they are not short of skill and experience. Ronaldinho, Pato all these players, but equally we have ­players who can win the match too."

Ferguson was in Milan on ­Friday evening to see Carlo Ancelotti's ­successor, Leonardo, oversee a 3-2 ­victory against Udinese. Ferguson, who will have noted how wobbly Milan looked in defence, said: "They used Kaká at the head of a diamond and two front players but they have changed that and gone 4-3-3 with two wide players and three centre-midfield players. They have changed since they lost Kaká [to Real Madrid in the summer]."

In this formation Ronaldinho – outstanding against Udinese, as he has been all season – starts on the left of the front trident. Klaus-Jan Huntelaar scored twice against Udinese and is likely to be the centre forward against United.

Who Leonardo chooses to play on the right, though, is the poser. Having been first choice since returning from LA ­Galaxy for a second loan spell last month Beckham has begun on the bench for the past two games.

Leonardo started these with the ­Brazilian Mancini, the 29-year-old on loan from Internazionale. Against ­Udinese he was injured within minutes, but Leonardo sent on Pato, the 20-year-old who had been out injured since December, and "The Duck" overcame early clumsiness to score a calmly-taken goal.

Why has Leonardo not picked Beckham recently? "Because we have to choose some players to try the ­system for them and to get them fit," he says. "Now fortunately we have a lot of ­players in good condition and we have the ­possibility to choose in midfield and in attack and everywhere."


Beckham, as he is bound to, denies any frustration. He says: "I've always said I never expect to start any games here. I started the first three or four games, obviously last week I didn't play and then came on [against Udinese], but I'm not frustrated at all."

Ferguson believes a fit Pato will be chosen ahead of Beckham. "It's Pato they are desperate to get back in," he says. "If he's not back they'll play David wide right. We know all about David, he's a great crosser of the ball so we will have to be alive to that."

While United's early exit from the FA Cup means they have had all weekend to prepare, Beckham is clear that Wayne Rooney, who scored twice in that 2007 semi-final, poses their main threat. "United are on fire and Wayne's ­scoring goals like he can. It's going to be a tough game," he says. "I've always said Wayne is one of the best goalscorers in football. He's proving that. He's at a great club and he's doing what he does best."

Beckham is also continuing to do what he does best: scorn those who write him off. "At the time a lot of people were ­sceptical [about Beckham coming on loan] because people knew he was very good in the past," says the Gazetta dello Sport's Allessandra Bocci. "The ­suspicion was that he came only for commercial reasons. But everybody saw he was very fit and proud to be in Milan. Now, the players and everybody love him very much."

So, too, do his bosses at AEG, the global company that owns the Galaxy, and many of the world's premier sporting arenas, including the O2 in ­London. Beckham's likely selection for the ­summer's World Cup means the Galaxy will be without him. But AEG's chief executive, Tim ­Leiweke, is thrilled by the Beckham-effect on his team, and Major League Soccer.

"It was a major turning point for the league," Leiweke says. "Whether it be Seattle or Philadephia Union joining as expansion teams, owners building new stadiums or the fans and increase of TV ratings, David deserves a lot of credit for his vision of trying to take the league to the next level. He's starting to get some real traction on that."



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