Join Now  | 
Home About Contact Us Privacy & Security Advertise
Soccer America Daily Special Edition Around The Net Soccer Business Insider College Soccer Reporter Youth Soccer Reporter Soccer on TV Soccer America Classifieds
Paul Gardner: SoccerTalk Soccer America Confidential Youth Soccer Insider World Cup Watch
RSS Feeds Archives Manage Subscriptions Subscribe
Order Current Issue Subscribe Manage My Subscription Renew My Subscription Gift Subscription
My Account Join Now
Tournament Calendar Camps & Academies Soccer Glossary Classifieds
Beckham enjoys surprise start
by Paul Kennedy, January 12th, 2009 7AM
Subscribe to Soccer America Daily


MOST READ


[ITALY] A day after Coach Carlo Ancelotti said he wouldn't start, David Beckham made a surprise appearance in AC Milan's starting lineup and played 89 minutes in its 2-2 tie at Roma.

"I thought it was great, I enjoyed it immensely, I was surprised to start the game," Beckham said. "Of course, I'm still working on my fitness but I felt good, better than I thought I would in the game. [My aim] is to play as many games as possible and work on my fitness and just be part of AC Milan. I feel very lucky."

Ancelotti said Beckham earned the start with his work in the days leading up to Sunday's game.

"I played him from the start because during training in the week he worked hard and earned it," the Milan coach said. "It wasn't a gift and he showed it by playing well. We agreed he would start but kept it quiet so as to protect him from all the attention. He was ready to play in this team because he is intelligent and he understands how this team plays. We were able to keep our balance with him in midfield. He played a simple and very disciplined game. I think in the next match he can give even more quality.

Beckham played on the right side in a three-man midfield alongside Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf.

Celebrating the first anniversary of his Milan debut, Brazilian teenager Alexandre Pato scored two goals sandwiched between goals by Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic.

The tie left Milan still nine points behind city rival Inter after 18 games.

The purpose of Beckham's offseason loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy is to keep him fit to stay in the England national team plans of Coach Fabio Capello, though Ancelotti insisted Beckham was at Milan to help the Rossoneri, not prolong his international career.

"If he [Capello] wants a report," Ancelotti added, "I would only have positive things to say because I have trained many players but it is not easy to find one with the professionalism Beckham is showing."

England's next game is a friendly against Spain on Feb. 11. If he plays, Beckham will equal Bobby Moore's of 108 caps for a field player.

Beckham insisted that he will return to the Galaxy in March.

"That's what's been agreed and that's what I'll stick to," he said.

 



No comments yet.

Sign in to leave a comment. Don't have an account? Join Now


AUTHORS

ARCHIVES
FOLLOW SOCCERAMERICA

Recent Soccer America Daily
Parkhurst's FC Nordsjaelland wins Danish title    
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Michael Parkhurst's FC Nordsjaelland won its first Danish league title when it clinched the ...
MLS Rewind ...    
[WEEK 12] Alan Gordon struck again, scoring in the fourth minute of stoppage time against his ...
What They're Saying    
"Everybody talks about who's better, Clint [Dempsey] or Landon, all this bulls***. And I want Clint ...
Ekra on fire for Harrisburg    
[WEEKLY HONORS] The Harrisburg City Islanders' Yann Ekra, who scored a hat trick in his first ...
Press hits hat trick, Yanks eye German title    
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Christen Press scored a hat trick in the span of 24 minutes on either ...
Nicollin proudly shows off Montpellier colors    
[VIDEO PICK] Colorful Louis Nicollin, owner of French club Montpellier since 1974, made good on his ...
What They're Saying    
"I don't think Bob (received) the kind of sendoff he deserved. He did a lot of ...
Falcao's golazo scissor kick    
[VIDEO PICK] Atletico Madrid's Colombian striker Falcao scored 24 La Liga goals this season and struck ...
Levein's Scots minus key players    
[USA-SCOTLAND] Scotland, which has not qualified for the World Cup since 1998, will look to use ...
U.S. Open Cup results    
[SCOREBOARD] Three amateur teams -- the PDL's Michigan Bucks and Ventura County Fusion and USASA's Cal ...
>> Soccer America Daily Archives