David Beckham has admitted it's painful for him to watch a Champions League season without Manchester United, but has backed his former club to get back to Europe's top table.
Beckham was part of the United side which won the competition in 1999, and the 13-time Premier League champions were regulars in the Champions League under Sir Alex Ferguson. The same hasn't been true over the last decade, though, and last season's eighth-place league finish ensured they won't play a part in the revamped 36-team tournament this term.
On Tuesday, while rivals Liverpool were beating AC Milan at the San Siro, United faced Barnsley in the Carabao Cup. Erik ten Hag's side are still in Europe this season thanks to their FA Cup triumph, but they begin their Europa League campaign against Twente on September 25.
Beckham still has a chance to witness a former club win this season's Champions League, having also represented Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain during his playing career. However, there's still an element of sadness about United's decline, with the club only reaching one Champions League quarter-final in the last decade.
"It is a little bit painful not seeing United there, but they’re going through something," Beckham said during CBS' Champions League coverage. "We’re too big to not to be back on this stage. So at some point, we have to be.
"I always look forward to the Champions League season," he added. "I was lucky enough to play in the competition with different teams and win it. I always follow the teams that I played for over the years but I watch all the games. It’s the biggest and best competition."
Two of his former clubs won their European openers, with Milan the exception. PSG claimed a last-gasp victory over Girona, with Madrid overcoming Stuttgart thanks to two late goals of their own, and Beckham is tipping the latter to improve once new signing Kylian Mbappe is fully bedded in.
"It’s been a tough start to the season for [Real Madrid], they’ve obviously bought a few new players in," Beckham said. "Kylian is a special player, a special person.
"It’s going to take him time to figure out the balance but I’m excited to see Real Madrid this season. Once they come together I think it’s going to be incredible."
Madrid were level with Stuttgart going into the final 10 minutes at the Bernabeu on Tuesday after Mbappe opened the scoring and Deniz Undav equalised. However, Antonio Rudiger put them back in front against his former club before Endrick added a third in stoppage-time.