Beckham ready to make critics eat their words

England skipper David Beckham says he will make his critics eat their words as Real Madrid look to shake off the hangover of last season.

"Winning the Spanish league is a key objective, as well as the Champions League," said Beckham whose season ended in a media frenzy about alleged affairs and a dreadful Euro 2004 where his woeful penalty miss saw Portugal dump England out in the quarter-finals.

"In the past ten years I have had to learn to live with it, as have my family," he told the Real Madrid website.

"A lot of people talk about my life and don't know me. But it's a situation I've got used to and I can live with it."

After making a bright start following his move from Manchester United, Beckham and the team fell away and five straight defeats saw Real slide from league leaders to fourth, forcing them into the Champions League qualifiers.

They were beaten in the Champions League quarter-finals by eventual runners-up Monaco and lost the Spanish Cup final to Real Zaragoza.

Beckham admitted the team was under pressure after going empty handed for the first time in five seasons and said he wanted to make his critics eat their words.

"The team is under pressure to win trophies. Personally, some people have said I didn't have some good moments and it's a challenge for me to respond to these comments."

"This year the objective is to repeat the good start I made when I signed for Madrid. I have completely adapted to Madrid. I knew that adapting would be one of the obstacles when I arrived but I got stuck in as I had to."

"Playing alongside these players is really worth it. I am surrounded by great players."

Beckham said the fans had made him welcome from the outset and he wanted to show his appreciation.

"I love the fans as from the first match they have been cheering me on and helping me."

Beckham admitted that linguistic progress was hard.

"Obviously I am not fluent. I am learning Spanish, I understand what's being said in training, but it's step by step."

"Spanish is very difficult for me," he said before repeating himself in Spanish by way of showing that he has made the effort.