Abby Brammell

By Ian Ladyman

Extending a hand: David Beckham says he has no bitterness towards Sir Alex Ferguson


Looking down the likely home team for tonight’s Champions League meeting at the San Siro, it would be easy to mistake the AC Milan starting XI for a clutch of nominations for the great Italian club’s Hall of Fame.

Such is the age of the spine of the Milan team that Manchester United will perhaps feel quietly optimistic that they can edge the Italians out on the back of brawn alone over the next three weeks.

Nevertheless, Milan’s most famous player — 34-year-old David Beckham — was adamant last night that his current club’s experience will prove invaluable as one of Serie A’s leading lights seeks to convince the world that the Italian league is not the home for the aged that it can sometimes appear.

Beckham, who will line up against United for the first time since leaving Old Trafford in the summer of 2003, said: ‘There is experience that comes with age and we all know that United have young players but we have great players in this team.

‘We have great experience and some of the best players in the world in this team.

Whether you are 21 or 34, like myself, it doesn’t really matter.

‘United are one of the biggest clubs in the world and their players are always ready to play in these big games. But we’ll be ready for tomorrow.’

The former England captain is not certain to be in tonight’s line-up but, at the very least, he will be named as a substitute.

Privately, his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson may be a little surprised to still see Beckham operating at top level, but if he is he didn’t say so.

Instead, the United boss only underlined what Beckham had said, acknowledging that Milan’s advantage was their experience and that ‘you can’t buy that’.


Centre of attention: Beckham


While Ferguson joked that it only took the English press contingent ‘three seconds’ to ask about Beckham yesterday, he sought to play the matter down.

‘He left us seven years ago,’ he stated, rather matter-of-factly. Beckham, on the other hand, was a little more emotional, and reiterated: ‘I always expected to be at United my whole career. There’s a great history that comes with both of these clubs and to be part of this tie in any way is very special.

‘There is no score to be settled. Sir Alex Ferguson, he has been like a father figure to me. He always has been and always will be, no matter what people have said in the past about our relationship.

'We had good times and bad times but for me the only times I remember are the good times. Sir Alex Ferguson is a manager respected all through football and around the world.


Father figure: Ferguson and Beckham


'He was the man who gave me the chance to play for the club I always dreamed of playing for. My time to leave United was in 2003 but I definitely don’t hold anything against the manager.

'He really is an incredible man.’

While Beckham sweats on his place, United are expected to recall another England captain, Rio Ferdinand, to the centre of defence. Ferdinand is a welcome returnee for Ferguson, even if fellow defender Nemanja Vidic is struggling to overcome the mental barriers created by a calf injury.

Ferguson clearly feels the Serb is fit and said: ‘It’s a difficult one because he thinks he feels he needs a lot of training.

‘He has been training for the last few days but doesn’t feel he is ready to take part in games. That’s something we just feel we have to be patient with.’


source: dailymail