Beckham backs Real coach

England captain David Beckham has pleaded with Real Madrid fans to show patience with Wanderley Luxemburgo after the midfielder’s late substitution against Lyon prompted a chorus of boos and whistles aimed at the coach.

Luxemburgo went into the Champions League clash under pressure following Madrid’s humiliating 3-0 loss to rivals Barcelona at the weekend.

And things failed to improve against Lyon when a 72nd-minute strike from John Carew cancelled out an earlier goal from Guti to give the French visitors a 1-1 draw.

Luxemburgo then brought the fury of the Bernabeu crowd down on himself when he replaced Beckham with Michel Salgado 11 minutes before the end.

The England captain had been struggling with a long-standing back problem throughout the second half and Luxemburgo later explained that had been the reason behind the change.

And Beckham has now spoken out in favour of the Brazilian, insisting he has the full support of everyone at the club.

“We are all behind Luxemburgo, he is a good coach and a good person,” Beckham told radio station Cadena Cope.

Since arriving in Madrid in June 2003, Beckham has worked under the leadership of Carlos Queiroz, Jose Antonio Camacho and Mariano Garcia Remon, as well as Luxemburgo, but is yet to win a major title with the Spanish giants.

And the England star admits so much chopping and changing has not helped matters.

“In England, I had the same coach for 10 years,” he added. “However, I have had four coaches in less than three years here, but it seems that’s normal in Spain.”

However, Beckham is also aware the players have to take their share of responsibility.

“It is very clear that if we don’t work and if we don’t run then we are not going to win anything this season,” he concluded.