Ferguson praises Beckham

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said he never had any doubt about picking David Beckham to play against Juventus on Wednesday despite the controversy surrounding the England captain this week.

Beckham played from the start against the Italians and laid on both goals in United's 2-1 win. He was sporting the cut inflicted by Ferguson last Saturday when the United boss accidentally kicked a football boot into his face in the Old Trafford dressing room after their FA Cup defeat by Arsenal.

"There was never any doubt that we'd start with him," Ferguson told reporters after the game. "Why do you think he would not be picked? You misunderstand. My best team picks itself."

Ferguson praised Beckham's role in the win, especially his pinpoint pass that led to Ruud van Nistelrooy's second goal five minutes from time.

"It was fantastic," said Ferguson, whose side top Group D with a maximum nine points and now only need only a draw in the return in Turin next week to qualify for the quarter-finals.

"They all worked hard, they had to work hard. We didn't have an outstanding player tonight. We had players who played well within the framework of the team.

"We were solid, we worked really hard, and we had a good shape about us, and we didn't really look as though we were going to lose the game."

Ferguson accepted, though, that Juve, ravaged by illness and injuries, could consider themselves a little unlucky.

"You have got to admire the tradition of Juventus. They had their problems but it didn't stop them...they kept at us and at us and at us. They probably deserved more.

"It was a great game of football, great quality."

Meanwhile Juventus coach Marcello Lippi firmly denied that Juventus had asked ruling body UEFA to postpone the match after six senior players were struck down by flu.

Lippi included three youth team players among his substitutes but said afterwards: "I want to make one thing clear. Juventus did not ask for the game to be postponed. All that happened was that the situation was pointed out to UEFA and UEFA had an inquiry. Juventus never asked for the game to be postponed."

UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner said earlier on Wednesday that there had been a request, but it had been turned down.

Lippi, whose team's hopes of qualifying were boosted by Deportivo Coruna's surprise 1-0 defeat by Basel in the other Group D game, said he was delighted with the way his make-shift side performed.

"We undeniably played very, very well," said Lippi. "The team was very secure and self-assured. We also created some dangerous situations. But there were a couple of situations where we showed poor concentration.

He refused to use the flu bug as an excuse, saying: "They all played with huge determination, good tactics and heart."