David Beckham could do no better than the AC Milan bench on his return to Old Trafford to face Manchester United tonight.

BEFORE Christmas I thought Didier Drogba was a shoo-in as footballer of the year.

WORLD champions Italy shared the honours with Greece after a low-key encounter in Athens ended in a draw between the two European rivals.

Arsene Wenger opted on the side of caution by deploying Emmanuel Adebayor as a lone striker when Arsenal took on AC Milan for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the San Siro tonight.

Alex Ferguson took a calculated gamble in the San Siro tonight by naming Nemanja Vidic in the Manchester United starting line-up to face AC Milan in their Champions League semi-final.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson made three changes to his side for this Champions League semi-final first leg match at Old Trafford.

AC MILAN coach Carlo Ancelotti admits an injury to Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will play into his team’s hands for the Champions League semi-final.

Brazilian goalkeeper Dida has been included in AC Milan’s 25-man squad for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

AC MILAN general director Ariedo Braida insists key men Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Nesta will be at the club when the new season gets under way.