David Beckham 'excited' by return to Manchester United

AC Milan's David Beckham says he is excited to face Manchester United at Old Trafford for the first time but maintains he wants them to lose.

The midfielder will line up against his former club in the Champions League last 16 second-leg tie, with Milan needing to overturn a 3-2 deficit.

But the 34-year-old, still revered by United fans, said: "I'm not nervous.

"Coming back to Manchester as a Milan player is exciting. It will be a tough game for us but nothing is impossible."

Doubt remains as to whether Beckham will start the match but if he does play at Old Trafford it will be the first time since he left United for Real Madrid in 2003.

He faces a United side boosted by the return to fitness of Wayne Rooney - who scored twice in the first leg - but that will be without Wes Brown, Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick through injury and suspension.

Beckham received a hero's welcome on his arrival at Manchester airport on Tuesday, but United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said he was unsure whether his former player would feature and was struggling to predict Milan's team as a result.

United will go for victory - Ferguson

"I am finding it difficult to pick their team, I don't know whether Beckham will start," said the Scot.

"I have not got that down in my conclusions about their team. He has not started a game since the first leg, so it is difficult to say what impact he will have on the game.

"But he will be there and the one thing you have to be aware of is his delivery of the ball, which is fantastic. That is the threat. There are a lot of threats in their team of course, but we are well aware of David's."

Asked whether Beckham had a chance of starting, Milan coach Leonardo skirted round the issue.

"For Beckham, it is obviously something special to have the opportunity to play against Manchester United given his history at the club," he said.

"When we saw the draw we knew it would be an unbelievable situation for him. But knowing David, and his attitude, I am sure he can cope."

Whether he starts or not, Beckham admits this is the first time he has ever wanted the club he supported as a boy to lose.

Beckham mobbed on Manchester return

"I will always be a Manchester fan and this is perhaps the first time in my life that I want them to lose," he told the AC Milan website. "I'll meet up with many friends and all the people who supported me for many years on the night.

"I played in that stadium for many years and I know what it means to be a Manchester United player.

"But I also know what it means for opponents to play there. It is always difficult to win, especially 2-0. We know we'll have to go for it, play good passes and create many moves, we have many players who can score. We are aware of the fact that it will be a very difficult match, but nothing's impossible.

"Milan have a lot of experience in Europe, they're one of the best clubs in the world."

If selected, Beckham could once again line up against former team-mate and long-term friend Paul Scholes, who believes the return to Old Trafford of the ex-England skipper will ensure a cracking atmosphere.

"United fans still love him for what he did for this club and he will get a fantastic ovation," said Scholes, who made the United first-team alongside Beckham in the 1990s.

"He will need to be watched though. If you give him time and room on the ball there is no doubt he will pick players out. From free kicks as well, his delivery is as great as ever."

Milan will have to create history if they are to reach the quarter-finals - Manchester United have never been eliminated in Europe after winning an away first leg.

"We are very focused - the first leg has given us a good opportunity to come here and achieve something," said Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini.

"But we know it will be a huge battle and a huge achievement if we pull it off."

Ferguson, meanwhile, has urged supporters to keep their protests against the Glazer family's ownership of the club away from the match.

There has been some suggestion that fans will delay their entrance into the match by 10 minutes, but Ferguson said: "They won't do that, it is too important a game.

"Old Trafford will be rocking and I am sure whether they are wearing the traditional red and white or the protest green and gold scarves, the fans will be united and singing with one voice to get us through."

From BBC