Fans' reception unbelievable, says Beckham

David Beckham said he was backing his old club Manchester United FC to go on and win the UEFA Champions League after they put his present team, AC Milan, to the sword last night.

Milan equalled their heaviest defeat in the competition as United hit four goals past them without reply to complete a resounding 7-2 aggregate triumph in the sides' first knockout round meeting. Beckham received one of the biggest cheers of the evening when he took to the field as a 64th-minute substitute for his first appearance at Old Trafford since leaving United in 2003.

The England midfielder said: "When you get knocked out of a competition, you always hope that the team that knocks you out goes all the way. With it being Man. United and me being a United fan, I really hope they go all the way.

"Sometimes you've just got to hold your hands up and say you've been beaten by a better team," he added. "We said before the game that if we got the first goal it gives us a chance, but they got the first goal and then straight after half-time got a second goal and that kills the tie. It was hard after that. They are a great team, they play great football and they deserve to be where they are."

Beckham was the last player to walk off the Old Trafford pitch, saluting all four sides of a stadium he graced for a decade as a United player. "I never underestimate the Man. United fans, the way they supported me throughout my whole career is incredible. The reception was unbelievable. Without a doubt my mum would have had a tear in her eye and probably my dad too. As much as it is disappointing, it was really an incredible night."

Beckham's team-mate Christian Abbiati rued the opportunities that Milan, who had 58 per cent of the possession, missed in the first half. With the game goalless Ronaldinho shaved the post with a header, while Klaas Jan Huntelaar's control let him down when Thiago Silva's pass gave him a clear sight of goal.

Abbiati said: "We had a couple of chances to score. I don't know if it would have changed the game but United were good enough to take advantage on the counterattack. However, we lost the tie in the first leg at San Siro." Milan were without defender Alessandro Nesta and lost Daniele Bonera at half-time with a calf problem, but Abbiati refused to use injuries as an excuse, adding: "Manchester deserved to go through."