Date:12/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/12/stories/2007071261612300.htm

Sport - Football

Chelsea ready for Beckham debut

Los Angeles: Chelsea is one of the World’s glamour football teams, but it will play a strictly supporting role to David Beckham when he makes his debut for Los Angeles Galaxy on July 21. “It’s a big moment for LA and also U.S. soccer,” Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said after training on Tuesday.

“They couldn’t choose a better player to achieve what they want to achieve. In Europe, we want U.S. soccer to go up (in popularity). We are Chelsea and we have a responsibility. We want to give Galaxy a big game to promote the new team.” Chelsea will play Mexico’s America on Saturday before returning to Los Angeles for next week’s World Series of Football, a doubleheader that culminates with Beckham’s first game. — AP