Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that David Beckham will start the second leg of his side's Champions League quarter-final tie against Barcelona next week.
The Italian also defended the 37-year-old midfielder's performance in the first leg in Paris on Tuesday that ended in a 2-2 draw.
"It's not normal and unjust," Ancelotti told reporters when asked about criticism of Beckham's performance in the French media. "He had a really good match, he followed exactly what I told him to do.
"If Paris was good in the first 30 minutes against Barca, it's because Beckham was good. I don't understand the criticism. Sometimes players don't play because they haven't been training well. Beckham deserves to be on the pitch even if he is 37.
"He will definitely start the return match. The aim is to put out a team that can win the match. I'm not a Beckham supporter, nor a friend of Beckham. I try to be objective."
PSG warmed up for the Camp Nou clash with a 2-0 away victory over Rennes in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Subhankar Mondal
