Soccer: Beckham eyes Utd
'Not impossible,' Ronaldinho agrees
08 March, 20:31
(ANSA) - Milan, March 8 - David Beckham can't wait to get back to his old stamping ground for the first time as an opponent.
"If I play on Wednesday I won't be frightened, but excited," the former Manchester United midfielder told Milan Channel Monday.
"I'm not nervous but happy because I'll be able to return to Manchester as a player for the first time, see a lot of old friends and all the people who supported me for so many years," said the England midfielder, who played for United for ten years from 1993 before moving to Real Madrid in 2003. Needing to overturn a 3-2 deficit from the Champions League last 16 first leg, Milan have to beat Utd by two clear goals - something no side in European cup history has ever done at Old Trafford. But "Milan is one of the best sides in the world and we know we have to play the ball around and create a lot of chances," said Beckham, 33, on loan from the LA Galaxy until the end of the season.
"I played at Old Trafford for many years and I know what it's like for opponents to play there: it's always hard. It'll be tough to win, especially by two goals to nil". "But nothing is impossible," he said, stressing that he was "sure" Wayne Rooney, Utd's two-goal hero from the first leg, would recover from a knee niggle to play.
"He had the weekend to recover," Beckham noted.
Beckham did not have a particularly good game at the San Siro on February 16 and is not expected to start on Wednesday.
His playing time Wednesday will be greatly restricted, pundits say, if Brazil striker Alexandre Pato recovers from a thigh injury. Pato made the squad Monday but a fitness test at Old Trafford Tuesday will decide if he plays.
'NOT IMPOSSIBLE', RONALDINO AGREES.
Pato's countryman Ronaldinho agreed Milan face a daunting but not inconceivable task.
"It's going to be a very tough game but nothing is impossible," 'Ronny' told the UEFA website.
"Milan has a strong tradition in the Champions League and everyone knows that it will live up to its name," said the former European Footballer of the Year.
Ronaldinho said he was optimistic that Milan's attacking approach would reap dividends because Man U would not opt to defend its lead.
"It will be a beautiful game. We're playing to win and they will too in front of their home fans, because (Sir Alex) Ferguson always has them play that way," said the Brazilian great, who had a lacklustre first season in Milan but has refound enough of his old magic to be described by coach Leonardo as the team's "leader" on and off the field.
The playmaker, who still has hopes of making Brazil's World Cup squad, said "it would be marvelous" to win his second Champions League trophy in Madrid on May 22, repeating the success he enjoyed with Barcelona in 2006.
"I will always remember when I lifted the cup next to (Barcelona captain Carlos) Pujol," he said.
