the Times:
As ever when Beckham is involved, there were more rumours than facts in
circulation yesterday and the "revelation" that the player was furious was
reported as if his imminent transfer from Old Trafford was confirmed. It is safe
to say that he was angry, although so would anyone be who had just lost one
of the biggest matches of the season, been blamed for a significant error and
then taken a whack in the face.
The theory that it confirms that Old Trafford is not big enough for Ferguson
and Beckham, though, is stretching a point, although this was more than an
isolated incident. The manager, annoyed at all the attention lavished on the
England captain, is never quick to resist a chance to bring him down a few
notches.
Beckham's willingness to be spotted by photographers on a shopping trip in
Manchester yesterday suggested that he did not mind embarrassing
Ferguson, although he had little choice. There were paparazzi outside his
Cheshire flat by dawn and he was in no position to deny a story, even if he
had wanted to, when the evidence was so visible.
A man as proud as Beckham will not be happy if it appears that he has been
bullied, but more than one source close to the player confirmed last night that
the latest row was less significant than previous spats. Manager and player
most famously clashed when Beckham missed training a couple of seasons
ago, claiming that his son, Brooklyn, was ill, only to be dropped to the bench
for a trip to Leeds United.
"Luckily, the manager doesn't bear grudges," Beckham said then and the pair
apparently worked together at training yesterday to suggest that, this time, the
player is not going to drag out the row.
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