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
Rogers-for-Magee, hometown boys return home    
[MLS SPOTLIGHT] Three months after announcing he was gay and retiring from soccer at the age ...
Tampa Bay and Atlanta eye outright lead    
[NASL SCHEDULE: Week 8] After winning their 2012 Soccer Bowl rematch with Minnesota United FC last ...
Timbers put unbeaten road record on line    
[MLS SCHEDULE: Week 13] The Portland Timbers sit third in the Western Conference with one loss ...
What They're Saying    
"I seriously felt like a coward. These kids are standing up for themselves and changing the ...
Seaton scores in Richmond win    
[USL PRO REWIND: Week 10] D.C. United's latest homegrown signing, Jamaican U-17 Michael Seaton, and midfielder ...
Charlotte remains unbeaten with 2-2 tie    
[USL PRO REWIND: Week 10] The Charlotte Eagles (3-0-4) remained unbeaten with a 2-2 tie against ...
Tijuana concedes late tie; Hoffenheim coasts    
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Americans Edgar Castillo and Joe Corona will have to head back to Brazil in ...
Busch Stadium friendly draws standing-room crowd    
[CHELSEA-MANCHESTER CITY] Manchester City kicked off the international summer friendly season with a bang, rallying from ...
Soumare deal is win-win for all parties    
[MLS TRANSACTIONS] Few deals seem to work out for all parties, but the Bakary Soumare trade ...
New York and FC Dallas look to solidify leads    
[MLS SCHEDULE: Week 13] MLS finishes its third month Memorial Day weekend with six games Saturday ...
>> Soccer America Daily Archives