Beckham making smooth transition
( 2003-08-05 16:23) (Agencies)
David Beckham has been a Real Madrid player for just over a month but the
England captain already feels like he has been at the club for years.
 |
| David Beckham is coping with pressure from his
transtion. [Reuters] | "I
think there usually is a settling down period, but for me I already feel
comfortable in this team," Beckham told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.
"I feel like I've been here for years already. That's important for me,
to feel as if I belong in this team and all the players have made me feel like
that."
Beckham, who joined the Spanish champions for $40 million on July 2, has
adapted so quickly he is already relishing the chance to meet former club
Manchester United in the Champions League.
"I spent a lot of time at Manchester United...but that's in the past. I'm
a Real Madrid player now and fully committed 110, 120 percent to Real Madrid."
"If I come up against Manchester United, obviously we will want to beat
them. It will be a nice night," said the 28-year-old before Real's friendly
against J-League club FC Tokyo later on Tuesday.
Beckham, who made his Real debut in a 4-0 win over a Chinese select team
in Beijing at the weekend, said that former Liverpool player Steve McManaman and
Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo have smoothed his transition.
"The players sort of accepted me straight away...and the players that
speak English -- Macca (McManaman) and Luis -- have helped me a lot," said
Beckham, who has picked up a few words of Spanish, not all of them work-related.
"On the pitch there are a few words I know and have used because it is
important that I communicate as much as I can. Roberto Carlos has taught me a
few naughty words though."
EXTRA PRESSURE
A relaxed-looking Beckham insisted Real Madrid -- with a wealth of riches
such as Figo, Ronaldo, Raul and Zinedine Zidane -- could cope with the extra
pressure his move to the Bernabeu is bound to bring this season.
"The pressure on big teams like Real Madrid is always there. It will
never change," shrugged the England midfielder.
"Whoever they bring in, whoever they buy, there is always pressure on
them to win trophies.
"They've done that last season with the league and hopefully we can do
the same next season and add a few more to it."
The man who launched a thousand mohicans in Japan during the 2002 World
Cup has already broadened the appeal of Real Madrid in Asia, where Beckham-mania
has exploded over the past year.
"The stuff outside the football is a great bonus," said Beckham, who
inspired a three-meter high chocolate sculpture of himself on a promotional
visit to Tokyo last December.
"It's something I'm used to. I can separate the two. When I'm on the
pitch nothing distracts me."
Beckham played in his usual position on the right of midfield against the
Chinese select team, the first match of Real's pre-season tour of the Far East,
with Real's regular right-sided midfielder, Figo, on the left.
"I have always said that I like playing on the right but I always would
welcome a position in the middle," he said.
FIGO SWITCH
"It doesn't bother me really. Luis has gone to the left and as you saw the
other night, he was man of the match, so switching positions has not bothered
him in any sense.
"As long as I'm playing and am in the team, that's good for me."
The London-born Beckham may be committed to his new life in Spain but he
still has no intention of missing England's friendly with Croatia on August 20.
"There was talk of the England coach, Mr. (Sven-Goran) Eriksson seeing how I
was settling in...but I don't think it's going to be a problem," smiled Beckham.
"I'm England captain."
|
