David Beckham should celebrate goal against Manchester United, says Clarence Seedorf

12 February 2010 22:30
It would undoubtedly be a moment with a resonance to match the time he ran almost the entire perimeter of the Old Trafford pitch, having buried the free-kick that took England to the 2002 World Cup. [LNB]Beckham, who is naturally averse to antagonism, is indicating that he will be more circumspect this time; after all, he does not want Sir Alex Ferguson to hurl another boot in his direction. Ferguson was at the San Siro last night to watch Milan's 3-2 win over Udinese. [LNB] Related ArticlesWayne Rooney branded 'antithesis' of David BeckhamBeckham ready to face Man UnitedDavid Beckham's 'surprise' at Armani advert ambushBeckham suffers intimate ambushBeckham: I won't quit football after World CupSport on televisionBeckham's fellow Milan veteran, Clarence Seedorf, who has faced similar dilemmas when he has encountered former club Madrid in the Champions League, is Real advising his team-mate to revel in the pleasure of scoring. [LNB]'If he scores a goal, he should celebrate, and people should know that it's not out of disrespect to a club where he was loved, and where he won important trophies,' the Dutchman said. [LNB]'It is a moment of emotion that you just express. He has coped with pressure his whole career, even if this is a very different situation. I hope people will applaud him.' [LNB]Beckham is four games into his second Milan loan spell from the Los Angeles Galaxy and already, ahead of an emotional reunion with United on Tuesday at the San Siro, the 34 year-old is attracting applause and approbation in almost equal measure. [LNB]The midfielder played only 15 minutes on Friday night as Milan dismantled Udinese thanks to two goals by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and a wonderful solo effort from Alexandre Pato. [LNB]It has not always been thus: after Beckham's first appearance in a 5-2 win over Genoa he was smothered with plaudits, as Leonardo, the Milan coach, extolled his virtues of agelessness and adaptability. [LNB]But barely a fortnight later, in the city derby, which Milan lost 2-0 to Inter, the local reception changed. Beckham's performance was so anonymous that La Gazzetta dello Sport argued that he 'appeared to be in a waxworks museum'. [LNB]The fault is not solely Beckham's, since his dip has coincided with a decline in the confidence of the Milan team. After the derby defeat they lost to Udinese in the Italian Cup and drew with Livorno and Bologna in Serie A before last night's revival. [LNB]Leonardo refused to be downcast, though, at the eight-point deficit to Inter in the league, even though their rivals only drew with Parma last weekend. The timing of such a seismic tie with United was not lost on him, either. [LNB]'This is the most important month of Milan's season,' he said. 'Inter's draw has given us the opportunity to reduce the divide, but we have to think about things game by game. There is no time to change, we have to stay tranquil, but not lose the anger, pride and will we have inside.' [LNB]

Source: Telegraph