Beckham: United are the best team in the world

Barcelona may be European champions but to David Beckham, Manchester United will always be number one.

Possibly for the last time, Beckham faced his old club on Wednesday night.
But even in a deep-lying midfield role, from which he produced an excellent personal performance, he could not prevent the MLS All-Stars slipping to a 4-0 defeat against Sir Alex Ferguson's men.
Not that Beckham allowed it to spoil his evening. He had a friendly chat with Ferguson after the final whistle and it is clear the affection for a club he supported as a boy but left for Real Madrid in 2003 still remains.
"They are the biggest team in the world and they are the best," he said.
"There is no other team like them. I have been lucky enough to play with AC Milan and Real Madrid but there is no other club with that attitude. Any new player that comes into Manchester United feels it straight away.
"The manager expects you to work hard and win games. It is instilled into you at a very young age at Manchester United and it carries on all the way through.
"There is a never-say-die attitude. It is what Manchester United have."
Beckham and Ferguson made their peace when the former England skipper was on a short stint with AC Milan and the pair exchanged a handshake during a Champions League training session at the San Siro, prior to an encounter with Inter.
The pair may have had their differences over Beckham's celebrity lifestyle, and in particular the influence of his wife Victoria, but the Londoner claims he still owes a debt of gratitude to the man he describes as 'a father figure'.
"I had many successful years at Manchester United playing under Sir Alex Ferguson," he said.
"I wouldn't be in the position I am today if it wasn't for him.
"He gave me a chance when I was 16 and I owe him a lot.
"He has been a father figure to me for many years. To play against Manchester United, with Sir Alex Ferguson still as manager and some of the players I played with, is always going to be emotional."
LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena might not have been too impressed with Beckham completing the full 90 minutes after only arriving in New Jersey at 1.30am on Monday morning.
However, Beckham conceded that was his own fault.
"The problem is with me, it doesn't matter how old I am, once I am on the field, I don't want to come off," he said. "I will always be like that.
"I enjoyed the game but if you don't capitalise on your chances, they can kill you.
"They play the ball around so well. It was a pleasure to play against them."

Pique: I've not seen anything like Sir Alex

Gerard Pique admits he is flabbergasted at how long Sir Alex Ferguson has remained at the top with Manchester United.

Ferguson will celebrate an incredible 25 years as Old Trafford chief in November.
During that time he has taken a club forever languishing in Liverpool's shadow to the pinnacle of the English game.
Last term, they finally knocked Liverpool 'off their perch' by lifting a record 19th league championship and now Ferguson is aiming to fend off new challengers in a bid to make in 20.
Pique spent four seasons at United, having been snapped up from Barcelona as a 17-year-old and made 20 appearances for the club before returning to Catalonia and beginning an unprecedented period of success, which includes a World Cup triumph and two Champions League final wins against his old club.
But Pique has nothing but admiration for Ferguson.
And as they prepare to square up in Washington for the final match of United's five-game pre-season tour, Pique spoke of his high regard for the man he used to call boss.
"I have never seen anything like this in Spain," he said. "It is unbelievable."
"I was with him for a few years and know why he is there."
"He is a great coach but he also treats the players really well. It is not only in terms of football. No matter what it is, he will be there for you."
"He has won so many titles and so many important things."
"All the Manchester United fans are really happy that he has stayed because they never won as much as they do now."
"Most of the is because of him and I hope he stays for many years yet."