ONE WORD NEEDED
David Beckham's advisers have made it clear he expects a full apology from
the manager Sir Alex Ferguson after the dressing-room clash that left the
England captain needing two stitches above his left eye.
Manchester United's manager risked irreparable damage to his relationship
with the midfielder after he last night dismissed the incident, in which
Beckham was struck by a flying football boot, as "a freak act of nature".
Beckham feels Ferguson is "seriously out of order", according to sources.
If Beckham was incensed that Ferguson inflicted the injury, having kicked the
boot in his direction while blaming the midfielder for Arsenal's second goal in
United's FA Cup defeat on Saturday, his mood was exacerbated by the lack of
remorse on the manager's part.
Ferguson might be notoriously slow to accept when he is in the wrong but in
this instance he may have to back off if he is to appease one of his more
influential players at a critical point of the season.
Though it would be an exaggeration to say Beckham feels there are
irreconcilable differences, the timing of his contretemps could hardly have
been worse. United host Juventus in the Champions League tomorrow and,
while Beckham is unlikely to play as he went off with a calf injury in the
Arsenal game, today's conference to preview that match will now be
dominated by questions about the precarious relationship between the
manager and his most high-profile player.
Although the club have been anxious to emphasise Ferguson did not
intentionally strike Beckham, it is known that the manager tore into him during
an outburst after Saturday's game. Ferguson was angry with his right-sided
midfielder, believing his slack marking had allowed Edu to create Sylvain
Wiltord's goal.
Before kicking the boot, it is claimed, he shouted at the players:
"You're supposed to be international footballers. You should be in a pub
team."
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the manager Sir Alex Ferguson after the dressing-room clash that left the
England captain needing two stitches above his left eye.
Manchester United's manager risked irreparable damage to his relationship
with the midfielder after he last night dismissed the incident, in which
Beckham was struck by a flying football boot, as "a freak act of nature".
Beckham feels Ferguson is "seriously out of order", according to sources.
If Beckham was incensed that Ferguson inflicted the injury, having kicked the
boot in his direction while blaming the midfielder for Arsenal's second goal in
United's FA Cup defeat on Saturday, his mood was exacerbated by the lack of
remorse on the manager's part.
Ferguson might be notoriously slow to accept when he is in the wrong but in
this instance he may have to back off if he is to appease one of his more
influential players at a critical point of the season.
Though it would be an exaggeration to say Beckham feels there are
irreconcilable differences, the timing of his contretemps could hardly have
been worse. United host Juventus in the Champions League tomorrow and,
while Beckham is unlikely to play as he went off with a calf injury in the
Arsenal game, today's conference to preview that match will now be
dominated by questions about the precarious relationship between the
manager and his most high-profile player.
Although the club have been anxious to emphasise Ferguson did not
intentionally strike Beckham, it is known that the manager tore into him during
an outburst after Saturday's game. Ferguson was angry with his right-sided
midfielder, believing his slack marking had allowed Edu to create Sylvain
Wiltord's goal.
Before kicking the boot, it is claimed, he shouted at the players:
"You're supposed to be international footballers. You should be in a pub
team."
Subscribe to the Red Issue magazine on-line:
http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/Pages/moreinfoa.asp?RecordID=GDBGJI&CompanyID=880
Telephone Orders:
Phone: 0870 8720200 quoting Product Ref: 1065/631698
Lines open Monday to Friday 09-00 to 17-30 hrs