Real back in the groove, says Beckham

DAVID BECKHAM hit back at Real Madrid’s critics after the Spanish side beat Monaco 4-2 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg clash and insisted they have put their bad patch behind them.

Real, chasing a 10th European title, went into Wednesday’s match on the back of a defeat in the final of the Spanish Cup and a 4-2 mauling at the hands of Athletic Bilbao, which resulted in their league lead being cut to just a point.

Against Monaco, they had to come from a goal down before wrapping up the match after the interval.