Champions League: Beckham could sit out United clash

David Beckham may be rested for Manchester United’s Champions League match against Olympiakos tomorrow.

The England skipper, whose stoppage-time free-kick against Greece booked the team’s place in next summer’s World Cup Finals, could be given a breather because of Saturday’s afternoon of high emotion.

Ferguson admits captaining England has made Beckham a better player, but he is also mindful of the toll the match may have had on him - and his international club-mates - both physically and mentally.

Ferguson will not want United to suffer any after effects against Olympiakos in the Spiros Louis stadium.

"I think captaining England has inspired the lad - there’s no question about that," said the United manager.

"He’s enjoying it so it’s had a benefit for David’s game.

"But it was a very difficult game for England on Saturday and I think these games do have an effect.

"From Olympiakos’ point of view they were very fortunate that only one of their players played so I think they will be very pleased by that.

"It’s a big game for both teams and we have got to be ready no matter what happened the game before.

"We realise that it’s a very difficult game because Olympiakos’ home form is very good.

"We’re coming in on the back of a disappointment in Spain so it’s imperative we do get a result."

Ferguson, when asked one question too many about the midfielder, he snapped: "I’m fed up answering these questions.

"Strange as it may seem we have 11 players who play in the Man United team."

Paul Scholes for Beckham may not be the only change and Ferguson is considering reverting to his old 4-4-2 formation and playing Andy Cole up front alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy.

This would mean ditching the new controversial 4-4-1-1 formation, with which Ferguson believes he can conquer Europe.

Definitely out is Nicky Butt, who has remained in Manchester with a rib injury, and Ferguson said: "I’ve not decided how we’ll play. I have to decide who the players are who are going to play first of all.

"We will check the players’ freshness and fitness and then decide. I’ve got to play a team I think will win. That’s the most important thing and it doesn’t matter what the occasion is.

"In the course of that you sometimes do change things around because you have to trust the squad of players you have and we have done that many times."

Olympiakos (probable): Eleftheropoulos, Mavrogenidis, Patsatzoglou, Bermudez, Venetidis, Giannakopoulos, Karembeu, Anatolakis, Giovanni, Roberts, Ofori Quaye.

Manchester United (probable): Barthez, G Neville, Blanc, Brown, Irwin, Beckham/Scholes, Keane, Veron, Giggs, Cole/Scholes, van Nistelrooy.