Football Talk : Beckham

Football Talk - Capello calls time on Beckham's England career - 12/08/10

Editor — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Fabio Capello has effectively brought the curtain down on David Beckham's England career, admitting the 35-year-old is too old for the Euro 2012 qualifiers. ...(read more)

Football Talk - David Beckham's World Cup Dream Over? 14/03/10

Boot Spy — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:50:00 GMT

England have suffered a setback to their World Cup hopes as David Beckham tore an Achilles tendon during AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo on Sunday.

Midfielder Beckham was unchallenged when he suffered the injury and hobbled off in pain before being carried away. The 34-year-old is set to fly to Finland for specialist surgery, but the signs aren't looking good for the former England captain. Head coach Fabio Capello has already expressed to the media that Beckham's hopes of making the finals in June appear to be over.

David Beckham, perhaps the most famous of adidas Predator football boots wearers, is England's most capped outfield player with 115 appearances and should he had featured in South Africa, would have been the first England player to appear in four successive World Cup finals.

So who could Capello look to now it seems Beckham's World Cup dream is over?

Theo Walcott or Shaun Wright-Phillips would be available to cover the right side of midfield, with other possibilities of James Milner, Joe Cole, Stewart Downing and Adam Johnson who could all be on the plane to South Africa...

Football Talk - Rooney to break 30 goal barrier - 17/02/10

Editor — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:27:00 GMT

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Wayne Rooney as one of the world's best after the striker's brace saw Manchester United to a 3-2 Champions League win over Milan.

Two second half headers from Rooney took his season's tally to 25 goals and ensured United have the advantage for the second leg of the last-16 game.

"He's in devastating form, they could not handle him in the second half. He was marvellous," said the United boss. "What we said he has to do is improve his goalscoring and now he's doing it."

When asked if the Englishman should now be regarded alongside the likes of Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferguson replied: "His basic ability is as good as the players you talk about. He has to be regarded at the highest level, along with all the other players we know about."

Ferguson backed Rooney to reach the 30-goal mark for the first time this season and feels his recent goalscoring form has taken him to a new level. "He could break 30," added Ferguson. "This season in particular, over the last two months, there has been a marked improvement in his game. Confidence has a lot to do with it of course. I just felt he had to improve his goalscoring, which is what he is doing now."

Those thoughts were echoed by Milan's England midfielder David Beckham, who was largely anonymous in his first match against United before being substituted in the 72nd minute. "Rooney is obviously on fire again," he said. "He's been on fire for a few weeks now and I've always said he's one of the best goalscorers in the world."

Ferguson conceded his United side were not at their best, saying: "I think we could have lost a few goals tonight. The first 20 minutes was a bad period for us. For 20 minutes we lost composure. Once we got going, we played well. We could have been two or three down, to be honest because the bad start gave Milan encouragement. But we were desperate to hang on and thankfully we got ourselves back into it."

And Milan counterpart Leonardo admitted his side felt aggrieved by the result. "I think we didn't score the goals we deserved," said the Brazilian coach. "Manchester United managed to take 100% of their chances. It's a question of centimetres unfortunately. You can't play 90 minutes at the same rhythm we started the game with. I can't criticise my side."

"I don't think to win 2-0 at Old Trafford is a totally impossible thing."

Football Talk - Champions League preview - Milan v Manchester United - 16/02/10

Editor — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:42:00 GMT

Milan coach Leonardo says Milan "must be flawless" if they are to maintain their perfect two-legged record against Manchester United as the clubs begin their first knockout round tie.

The Brazilian believes his side's season will be determined by their Champions League first knockout round tie against Manchester United in Tuesday's home leg, when many eyes will be on former Manchester United player David Beckham.

"These two games against United are the most important matches for us so far, and they come at the most delicate moment of the season," said Leonardo. "They will also be crucial in determining our future. We must be almost perfect, flawless. I want to see the same performance I saw at Real Madrid during the group stage; I think that was our best game this season and when we played the best football. We must repeat that. This game is really important for me and also for some of my players who don't have much experience in European competition.

"Luckily we also have experienced players who can help the team. We are not going to change our style of play, Milan usually play better against great teams like Manchester United because they play open football. It will be important not to concede goals at home, but we will also try to score. As I have said in the past, it is in our DNA to try to score goals. I will choose the starting XI in the afternoon, after the last training session. We must give everything we have and do our best."

Leonardo will be without the injured duo Marco Borriello and Gianluca Zambrotta, but Massimo Oddo and first-choice left-back Luca Antonini are available after recovering from thigh and rib injuries respectively.

Visiting manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who, inevitably, was quizzed on the presence of David Beckham in the Milan squad, insisted that his team are in better shape than during their 3-0 semi-final defeat by the Rossoneri in Milan in 2006-07.

"Beckham left seven years ago," he said. "We move on in life: it's a different team, we have different players. I think we've developed a kind of maturity away from home in the last two years since we last met Milan. We've changed, especially from a physical point of view. This time we are more in shape."Milan are an experienced team and we know they have wonderful players – many of them have won this trophy. Think about Seedorf; he has such experience and that's something you cannot buy.

"I watched the Milan derby and I saw a very good team that night. Milan have experience and in big games they give their best, so you have to be cautious. It's true that English football has dominated the last few years, but it's like a cycle: there was the Spanish era, the Italian era and so on."

Ferguson will be without John O'Shea, Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs and Anderson, while there remains a doubt over the fitness of Rio Ferdinand.

Milan have triumphed on the four previous occasion the clubs have met over two legs in Europe, winning semi-final ties in the European Cup in 1957-58, 1968-69 and 2006-07 as well as in the Champions League first knockout round in 2004-05.

Football Talk - David Beckham looking forward to Manchester United reunion - 15/02/10

Editor — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:12:00 GMT

David Beckham has dismissed suggestions that he he has a score to settle with Sir Alex Ferguson when Milan meet Manchester United.

The two sides meet in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday night, with the first leg taking place at the San Siro. It will be the first time Beckham has faced the club where he spent the first 10 years of his career.

When Beckham left Old Trafford, Ferguson was known to be unhappy with his celebrity lifestyle and there were reports of the United manager throwing a boot at the former England skipper during one heated row. However, as he awaits his first match against his old club, Beckham had nothing but praise for the veteran boss. He told a press conference:

"Manchester United are always going to be a strong team, no matter what, because Sir Alex Ferguson is a manager who always looks to improve the team. To be part of this tie is special. To be part of a Manchester United team that played in the Champions League for many years, and now to be part of an AC Milan team, the history goes beyond anything you can ever dream of as a football player.

"Sir Alex Ferguson was always a father figure to me. Always has been and always will be. No matter what people have said in the past about our relationship, whether we have had good times or bad times, I only remember the good times. He was the man that gave me the chance to play for a club that I'd always dreamed of playing for. We had so many successful times. For me, there are only good times and good memories from Manchester United.

"As an AC Milan player we want to win this tie. I want to beat Manchester United and to say that as a Manchester United fan is quite difficult. The most important thing is that we progress in the Champions League. There is definitely no score to be settled. It's all about the game and all about AC Milan.

"Clubs move forward, it was my time to leave Manchester United in 2003 and I moved on. I definitely don't hold anything against the manager, he really is an incredible man."

Beckham, who lifted the European Cup with United in 1999, knows he is not guaranteed a starting spot in Leonardo's first XI for the first leg, and accepts he may start the game on the bench.

"I always said when I came to the club that I never expect to start any game. I've started the first three or four games. Obviously last week I didn't play and then this week I came on so no I'm not frustrated at all."

Football Talk - Beckham eyes Manchester United reunion - 16/12/09

Editor — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:55:00 GMT

David Beckham is hoping Milan play Manchester United in the Champions League draw on Friday, enabling the midfielder to face his old side for the first time since leaving for Real Madrid in 2003.

The Los Angeles Galaxy veteran, who will move to the San Siro on loan for the remainder of the 2009-10 season when the transfer window reopens next month, told Gazzetta dello Sport that he would relish a return to Old Trafford.

"I would really like to face my former team in the next round,'' said Beckham. "Since I left (United) in 2003, I have not returned to play at Old Trafford. Seven years have gone by and I would like for that to happen. Me against Manchester, it would be beautiful, wouldn't it?''

But Beckham acknowledged that such a tie would be a difficult encounter for Milan. "It would be very difficult,'' Beckham added. "But it will be very exciting. I like big challenges and I would love to play that type of game. I would love to win the Champions League because it is a special competition, where the strongest teams compete.

"I am delighted to return to Italy. I can't wait to go back to Milan. I am counting the days and there is only two weeks to go. Above everything, I want to be a part of this fantastic group. It's not important which position I play in midfield, the important thing is how I play.''

Football Talk - Beckham confirms Milan move - 03/11/09

Editor — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:43:00 GMT

England midfielder David Beckham is to rejoin Milan on loan in January after the Italian club reached an agreement with Los Angeles Galaxy. Beckham regards a move to Milan as vital if he is to make the England squad for the 2010 World Cup....(read more)

Football Talk - Beckham relishing play-offs - 26/10/09

Editor — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:52:00 GMT

David Beckham says he is looking forward to the play-offs after Los Angeles Galaxy's 2-0 victory over San Jose Earthquakes confirmed his side as winners of the MLS Western Conference.

The England international was given a standing ovation when he was replaced by Jovan Kirovski four minutes from time and Beckham said it was important to confirm their first Western Conference title in seven years. He told mls.net:

''We wanted to finish off on a high especially in front of our fans and we did do that. It was important we won the game, to be top in our division. We've played better in games and we've passed the ball better in games but we won the game. It pleased the fans that it made us the top but we don't stop here. There is still a lot of work to be done but I'm happy with the position we're in.''

Houston beat Chivas USA 2-0 in the other match meaning the Galaxy will play their Home Depot Center co-tenants in the first leg of their semi-final series.

Football Talk - Milan deal nearly agreed - Beckham - 15/10/09

Editor — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:47:00 GMT

England midfielder David Beckham admits his loan move to Milan is 95 per cent complete. The Los Angeles Galaxy player is due to finish his current season in the MLS and is keen to maintain his fitness, with an eye on Fabio Capello's World Cup squad for South Africa next year.

Having spent a spell on loan at the San Siro last season, Beckham hopes to return to the club next January. "It's close. I've always said I want to go back there if they want me," he said. "AC have said they wanted me back since I left to go back to the United States and they're saying the same now.

"It's 95% done so I don't know why it wouldn't happen now."

Football Talk - LA Galaxy happy for Beckham to leave - 09/10/09

Editor — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:54:00 GMT

David Beckham will be allowed to move away on loan from the L.A. Galaxy in January - but the club wants him to arrange a deal soon. Beckham is expected to return to Milan in a repeat of the loan spell he enjoyed earlier this year, as he looks to retain his fitness levels and remain in Fabio Capello's squad for South Africa.

The Galaxy have qualified for their first MLS post-season since 2005, but they do not want Beckham's attempts to secure a loan move to hinder his form. Tim Leiweke, chief executive of Galaxy's parent company AEG, said: ''We have a deep appreciation of what he is doing with his national team. I wanted him to know that we will support him so we are going to lend him out.''

Although Leiweke is happy to loan Beckham to a European club prior to the World Cup, he is confident the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star will return to the Galaxy to serve out his contract. ''We know he has to be playing in Europe leading up to the World Cup," he added. "That has been made clear to us, and we are going to support that. He will be somewhere come January and we will see him back in July. We have a contract and despite people thinking we're going to sell him, we're not. David is going to finish his career with the Galaxy.''

Galaxy want Beckham's loan deal sorted out soon so he can concentrate on a title challenge with his club. ''We want to get it done, for him and for us, because we have work to do over the next few weeks and I don't want any confusion,'' Leiwiceke added. ''It's the same with Landon Donovan, there are a lot of rumours of whether he is staying or going. We're going to clear that up in the next two weeks because we want the team to be focused.''