17/04/2025 12:10
David Beckham says he ‘knows who he will be supporting’ in the Champions League semi-final between Arsenal and PSG.
Arsenal will face Paris Saint-Germain for a place in the 2025 Champions League final after wins over Real Madrid and Aston Villa respectively.
Premier League runners-up Arsenal looked to have a tough assignment ahead of their quarter-final tie with Real Madrid but thumped the defending champions 5-1 on aggregate.
PSG, meanwhile, survived a late comeback from Villa to win 5-4 on aggregate and reach yet another Champions League semi-final.
Beckham was full of praise for Arsenal’s ‘complete’ performance against Real Madrid and says the Gunners’ progress in Europe is ‘great’ for English football.
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However, he wants his former club Paris Saint-Germain to reach the Champions League final at the expense of Arsenal.
Beckham finished his illustrious career at PSG and while he only made 14 appearances for the French club has fond memories of his spell there.
‘I actually think it’s great to see an English team in the semis,’ Beckham told CBS Sports after the four semi-finalists were confirmed.
‘Obviously, if they go on and obviously beat PSG and get to the final, I think it’ll be a special thing for them as a club, for Mikel [Arteta] as a manager and for the team and the performances that they’ve put in the Champions League this year.
‘I know my son’s watching so I hope they do well in the Champions League but obviously they’re coming up against PSG so I know who I’ll be supporting on the night!
‘But we always want English teams to do well. It’s such a special competition.’
Asked specifically about Arsenal’s display against Real Madrid, Beckham added: ‘I think a lot of people actually expected a little bit of a comeback, you know?
‘It’s what they were all saying in Madrid, the day of the game and the lead up to it, but in all honesty, the two games, Arsenal deserved it.
‘I think it was the complete performance from Arsenal – great individual performances, great team performance, and then obviously a great management by Mikel [Arteta], so they deserved it.
‘I was expecting a little bit more of a comeback today but just wasn’t meant to be. Arsenal managed the game so well.
‘There were great performances from all the defenders and then obviously with Declan [Rice] and Bukayo [Saka]. I think it was an exceptional performance away from home.’
Arsenal ‘favourites’ to win Champions League
After Arsenal dismantled Real Madrid, Theo Walcott named his former club as the ‘favourites’ to win the Champions League.
‘I want Arsenal to win it and they are certainly capable of going all the way,’ he told BBC Sport.
‘They will be favourites now, after going to the Bernabeu and beating Real Madrid, but there is something about Inter Milan that worries me. The way they defend makes me think they have a real chance too.
‘It is still so open, though, and I can’t even call either semi-final right now, let alone the final – it is too hard to say who will win it with any certainty.’
La Liga leaders Barcelona face Serie A giants Inter Milan in the other Champions League semi-final.
Barca proved too strong for Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals while Inter knocked out German giants Bayern Munich.
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