Share

Becks: Fergie can outwit Barca

London - Manchester United can upset the odds and beat Barcelona in Saturday's Champions League final because of their manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed former United star David Beckham on Monday.

Barcelona are it is claimed by some as one of the greatest teams in the history of the sport but Beckham told the BBC that he believes if anyone can bring them down to earth it is the wily 69-year-old Ferguson, who has just taken United to a record 19th league title.

"He (Ferguson) can't get any better than what he is - he has proved year after year, team after team, player after player what an amazing manager he is," said Beckham, who made his debut for United in 1992 before leaving for Real Madrid in 2003.

"To change the players around like he does over the years and still be a success is unbelievable.

"Everyone is talking about Barcelona as one of the best club sides in the world - and of course they are.

"But if anyone can beat Barcelona at their peak, then Sir Alex Ferguson knows how to do that. I hope they go and do that."

Beckham, who is due to return and play at Old Trafford on Tuesday in a testimonial against Juventus for longserving fullback Gary Neville who has retired, rubbished claims that this United side lacked the class of its predecessors who had won the title.

"They are up there with the best United sides of all time; the proof is in the trophies they have won," said the former England captain, who won six league titles under Ferguson.

"People have criticised the team but you can't ask for more than that."

Should United beat Barcleona it would be the third time that Ferguson has done the league and Champions League double during his tenure.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
32% - 1843 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1810 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1100 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 470 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 193 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 261 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE