Becks plays second fiddle
(02-28 10:30)
David Beckham is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with the Champions League after an impressive full debut for Paris Saint-Germain in the biggest fixture in French football last night.
After a 15-minute cameo appearance from the bench as PSG beat bitter rivals Marseille 2-0 in the league on Sunday, the veteran Englishman was handed his first start for his new club as the two clubs met again in the last 16 of the French Cup, AFP reports.
He lasted for fully 85 minutes before being taken off to a deafening ovation from a full house at the Parc des Princes as the capital club once again won 2-0.
“I felt good,’’ he said after the game, won by the home side thanks to a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. “I've been working hard over the last month to get fit but it helps to have players around you like those here.''
Beckham admitted that he enjoyed sampling the occasion, which included having the chance to go directly up against compatriot Joey Barton.
There was a coming together of the two players at one point in the first half but, despite Barton's notoriously short temper, Beckham laughed off the incident as just one of several clashes all over the pitch as the game was played out in a highly-charged atmosphere.
“I did get a little elbow from Joey, but it was nothing really,'' he said.
“He does well for them and is a talented player so good luck to him.
“It was quite spiky out there tonight, but it was like that at the weekend too, and it is just part of the game when you consider the rivalry between the clubs.’’
In the game, he once again offered a trademark long ball for Ibrahimovic in the build-up to the second goal. He was also involved in the build-up to PSG's decisive second goal against OM on Sunday.
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