Man Utd legend Beckham: I told Keane to take Galaxy pen

LA Galaxy ace David Beckham insists it was HIS idea for Robbie Keane to take their late spotkick to seal the MLS Cup final against Houston Dynamo.

The former Tottenham and Liverpool striker duly converted to complete the 3-1 triumph.

Manchester United legend Beckham could've crowned his Galaxy career with the spotkick, but insisted: “I told Landon to take it but he said he was too tired. So I told him to let Robbie take it because I didn’t want it as I’ve missed a few over the years.

“All I wanted was to win the game. It’s not about me taking a penalty to top things off.

“Being successful doesn’t come easy. I tell my children every day that if you want to be a success it’s hard graft.”

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Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross resists lure of return to Manchester United

Ryan Shawcross has told Stoke he is ready to reject the opportunity to rejoin Manchester United because he does not want to part with his manager and mentor, Tony Pulis.

Stoke have offered their 25-year-old captain a record-breaking six-year deal, said to be worth £14m, and Shawcross confirmed that he has no wish to leave the Britannia Stadium, even though it means committing himself to a team never likely to be better than mid-table in the Premier League.

Only six weeks ago, the Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, said that he wished Shawcross was still at Old Trafford and doubted his wisdom in letting Pulis sign him for £1m in January 2008. But the 6ft 3in centre-half is clear that he wants to repay Pulis for the faith he showed in him then and for turning him into an England player.

"The talks are ongoing and we are not that far along yet for me to say it has been agreed in principle, but the main thing is that I want to stay and Stoke want to keep me," Shawcross said.

"Ultimately, it is up to my agent and the club to sort it out but I've told them I want to stay and the main reason is the gaffer. He's been great to me throughout my time here and made me captain at a young age. I've told him I want to stay here, even if a top four club comes in.

"I feel like he's improved me every year. He got me into the England squad, which has been a goal of mine, and it showed a Stoke player can get into the England squad, which has been an issue."

Shawcross helped Stoke to their seventh clean sheet of the season as Dean Whitehead's goal gave them a fourth win in five matches on Saturday.

Match facts

WBA: MYHILL 6/10, REID 7, McAULEY 7, OLSSON 6, POPOV 7, DORRANS 7, MULUMBU 7, ROSENBERG 5, YACOB 6, GERA 6, LONG 6

Stoke: BEGOVIC 7, CAMERON 6, HUTH 7, SHAWCROSS 7, SHOTTON 7, ETHERINGTON 6, ADAM 6, NZONZI 7, WHELAN 7, WALTERS 6, K JONES 8

Goal: Stoke City Whitehead 75. Subs: WBA Lukaku 6 (Rosenberg, 64), Odemwingie 7 (Gera, 64), Brunt (Yacob, 81). Stoke City Kightly 7 (Etherington, 59), Whitehead 7 (Adam, 64).

Bookings: Stoke City Huth, Adam, Shawcross. Man of the match K Jones. Match rating 6/10.

Possession: WBA 52%. Stoke City 48%.

Attempts on target: WBA 11. Stoke City 4.

Referee K Friend (Leicestershire). Att 24,739.

http://www.independent.co.uk

Reading v Manchester United – Match Preview

Manchester United head to Reading on Saturday hoping to maintain their momentum as the busy Christmas and New Year period looms.

Having fought out a 1-0 win over West Ham on Wednesday to notch their second consecutive English Premier League victory, United face seven games up until January 2 in what could be a crucial period in deciding this season’s title.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have a relatively easy festive period and will face four teams who currently occupy the bottom seven places in the standings.

“With no international football and our last (Champions League) group game next Wednesday, it gives us a further chance to concentrate on the league,” Ferguson said after Manchester United’s win over West Ham.

Antonio Valencia could return to United’s squad for the trip to Reading having been left out against West Ham due to a hip injury but Nani, Shinji Kagawa and Nemanja Vidic are still unavailable.

Reading lost both their matches in the past week, going down to Aston Villa and Wigan in clashes that already had the air of relegation six-pointers. Brian McDermott’s team shipped four goals in those two fixtures and will face a tough task up against the leading scorers in the league.

United have scored 33 goals in 14 games to sit atop of the Premier League, one point ahead of City, while Reading are second from bottom. Robin van Persie leads Ferguson’s team with nine goals, just one behind golden boot leader Luis Suarez of Liverpool, while Javier Hernandez has five strikes to his name.

Reading have conceded 23 goals this season with only Southampton, Queens Park Rangers and Wigan having let in more.

One positive at the back for Reading in the past month has been goalkeeper Adam Federici, having started the season with a couple of howlers and being dropped to the bench as a result, the Australian has fought his way back into the starting line-up and has started the past four games.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk