David Beckham, a distinguished member of Manchester United’s historic 1999 treble-winning squad, attended the premiere of a documentary focused on that era. He emphasized the importance of motivation and urged the current Manchester United players to prove their dedication to the team amid a challenging period.
The former United midfielder was in Manchester on Thursday to celebrate the new three-part series, ’99’, which will be released on May 17. His Studio 99 company played a significant role in its production. Beckham was a pivotal figure during United’s legendary treble season, winning the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup under the stewardship of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Current Situation at Old Trafford
Beckham addressed the troubled state of the club as United manager Erik ten Hag faces mounting pressure. Following a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, the team languishes in eighth place in the Premier League, putting Ten Hag’s position at risk. Despite these challenges, Beckham emphasized that the players themselves must shoulder responsibility:
“You’d hope that the manager doesn’t have to do much. I think that’s the whole point of being a Manchester United player and playing in these big games – you should be motivated,” he said.
While the team’s performance in the league has been disappointing, there is still hope that Ten Hag’s second season can be redeemed if they secure victory over arch-rival Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Beckham believes the current squad should use the final as an opportunity to demonstrate their value to the club by exacting revenge for last year’s loss to City.
“When you’re a professional footballer and you’re doing the job you love and you’re at the club you love, when you’re playing in any game, whether it’s a regular season game or whether it’s an FA Cup final against your rivals, that should be enough motivation,” Beckham noted.
“And, if it’s not, then you’re in the wrong team and you’re playing the wrong sport. We went into every game, whether it was a youth cup game, a friendly game, off-season or a European Cup final, with the same mentality and the same drive.
“We all know Erik’s a very qualified manager and a good manager and he has the right motives,” he added.
The Class of ’92 Legacy
Beckham, a member of United’s famous ‘Class of ’92’ which included players like Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, and Nicky Butt, spent 11 years with the club, winning six Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, and several other accolades before transferring to Real Madrid.
The 49-year-old lifelong United supporter acknowledged the challenges the club has faced since winning their last league title under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
“Obviously it’s been a tough five, 10, 15 years at United and we all know that but it was never going to be easy when the boss left, (Roy) Keane left, Giggsy (Ryan Giggs) left, Gary (Neville) left,” he remarked.
“All of these important players and personalities and characters all left United, it was always going to be a difficult time.
“We want the lads to feel – from this documentary – the inspiration of being this successful.”
Beckham’s encouragement aims to galvanize a struggling United side to find renewed motivation as they prepare for the FA Cup final, seeking redemption against their biggest rivals.
