Beckham: Sticking with Real
(sportinglife.com)
Updated: 2005-03-11 16:52

David Beckham has no intention of quitting Real Madrid despite their exit from the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Madrid's tie with Juventus appeared destined for penalties at the Delle Alpi after Ivan Helguera's first-leg winner was cancelled out by Juve substitute David Trezeguet.

But Uruguayan striker Marcelo Zalayeta fired home a low drive with three minutes of extra-time remaining to send Fabio Capello's side through.

It was another blow for Madrid and Beckham, who has not won the amount of silverware he would have expected following his move from Manchester United in the summer of 2003.

The England captain insists, however, that he will not be seeking a move from the Spanish capital.

"All I know is that I have two years remaining on my contract and I don't want to leave here without winning a title," he said.

"I am very disappointed because we had high hopes placed in this competition."

Beckham, whose solitary medal at Madrid came in the 2003 Spanish Super Cup - a traditional curtain-raiser to the Primera Liga season, lasted 77 minutes in Turin before giving way to Santiago Solari.

"We thought we had a good result from the first leg and that it would be enough for us to continue in the Champions League, but we didn't get the away goal we needed and that did us a lot of damage," he added.

"I don't know exactly what happened that allowed them to knock us out. It's true Juve are a great team, but we had the game under control."

Beckham's view was not shared by Madrid coach Wanderley Luxemburgo, who grudgingly admitted Juve deserved their place in the last eight.

"It is absurd to speak about what is fair or not in football. What is true is that we had no luck at the Delle Alpi. They scored two goals and so you can say that Juventus' qualification is deserved," he said.

Madrid's sole target this season is now the Primera Liga, in which they trail bitter-rivals and leaders Barcelona by eight points.

Luxemburgo added: "We have to think about the league now.

"Only one team could advance here and that was Juventus, but we still have the league and we have to fight until the end of the season."