Beckham not “freaked out” over Champions League game against Man U

MILAN - AC Milan midfielder David Beckham has said that he is not “freaked out” at the prospect of handing his former club Manchester United a Champions League knockout.

Beckham is due to face United at Old Trafford on Wednesday for the first time since his departure in 2003.

It will be an emotional occasion, but that will not deter the 34-year-old from getting his new side into the quarterfinals at the expense of the club where he grew up.

“It was always my dream to play for Manchester United and I never thought I would play against them with a different shirt. Now I will be returning as a Milan player and it will be very emotional for me,” The Sun quoted Beckham, as saying.

“But if I play, I won’t be freaked out, I will be very excited because Old Trafford is a ground where I played for many years and I know what it’s like to be a Manchester United player. I will always be a supporter of Manchester United and this will be the first time in my life I want them to lose,” he added.

For Beckham to knock out his old club, Milan will have to overturn a 3-2 deficit from the first leg of their last-16 clash.

“I know what it means for the opposition to play there. We all know that it will be a hard game, but nothing is impossible,” he said.

The 34-year-old further said that he has made peace with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson since their fall-out that led to his departure to Real Madrid.

“I will get the chance to meet up with some friends and all the people who supported me for so many years. Whoever dreams about playing for United shouldn’t do it for the money but for the honour of playing for them. That’s what I wanted as a boy, it was the only club I ever wanted to play for,” Beckham said.

“Sir Alex always gives advice to the players and is one of the best managers in football. He protects his players but he made it clear to me when I was wrong,” he added. (ANI)