David Beckham has backed Manchester United to go on and win the Champions League after they crushed AC Milan to book their place in the quarter-finals last night. Wayne Rooney's virtuoso performance at Old Trafford may have cemented a 7-2 aggregate victory but it was Beckham who stole the headlines with his decision to wear a green-and-gold scarf, a symbol of supporter opposition to the Glazer family’s ownership of United, as he left the pitch.
Beckham was given a standing ovation when he was introduced as a 64th-minute substitute for his first appearance against his former club since leaving 6½ years ago. His cult status soared farther as he grabbed a scarf handed to him by a supporter, although he later attempted to distance himself from the campaign to oust the Glazer family.
Beckham reflected on an "unbelievable" reaction from the crowd and predicted United would reach their third consecutive Champions League final in May. "When you get knocked out of a competition you kind of hope that the team that knocks you out goes all the way," he said. "It is always disappointing when you lose games, especially when they are as important as this, but we've come up against a great United side tonight.
"The thing that I will take is the reception I got from the fans, it was unbelievable. It meant a lot [coming back here]. It's definitely up there as one of my best nights, obviously without the result. The atmosphere, the occasion and everything that the fans gave to me tonight was unbelievable. I hope they go all the way again. They deserve to, it is a great club, a great fan base and a great manager."
Beckham's decision to endorse the green and gold movement has been regarded as a major victory for the protestors, but the former England captain does not want to be regarded as a figurehead for the campaign.
"I'm a Manchester United fan and when I saw the scarf I wanted to put it round my neck," he said. "It's the old colours of United but, it's not my business. I'm a United fan and I support the club. I always will, but it's got nothing to do with me how it's run. That's all to do with other people. I will always support the team."
On a night when Malcolm Glazer's sons, Joel and Avram, were inside the stadium to witness the scale of antipathy towards their ownership of the club, Beckham admitted he was aware of the gathering protests against United's owners. "You can hear it week in and week out," he said. "There's always protests going on. Let's hope it gets sorted out."
Two more goals from Rooney on the night left Sir Alex Ferguson wondering whether his leading scorer could emulate Cristiano Ronaldo's total of 42 last season and Beckham lavished the striker with praise.
"He is one of the best in the world at the moment, if not the best," Beckham said. "Wayne will continue to play like that because he is a passionate player, he is a young player, he wants to learn. "With [Lionel] Messi and Ronaldo he is up there with the best, if not at the top. He has always scared defenders, whoever he has played for. Let's hope he continues that."
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