David Beckham has labeled Manchester United's title winning team as one of the great United sides of all time.

Critics have claimed that the current United side has been a shadow of previous title winners, after picking up the fewest away wins for a title winning side in the history of the Premier League.

But Beckham, who is set for his Old Trafford bow in Gary Neville's testimonial match, believes the current crop are as good as any United side to have won the league title.

"They are up there with the best United sides of all time; the proof is in the trophies they have won," Beckham said.

"People have criticised the team but you can't ask for more than that.

"They have won the league again and they're in the Champions League final.

"They have that togetherness that every United side has had under Sir Alex Ferguson and they will continue to have that."

Beckham left Old Trafford for Real Madrid in 2003, where he won the La Liga title just once in his final year at the club as they wrestled the title away from Barcelona.

The Catalan's are United opponents in this weekend's Champions League final, and Beckham believes that with Ferguson at the helm, United have an excellent chance to win their fourth European Cup.

"He [Ferguson] can't get any better than what he is - he has proved year after year, team after team, player after player what an amazing manager he is.

"To change the players around like he does over the years and still be a success is unbelievable.

"Everyone is talking about Barcelona as one of the best club sides in the world - and of course they are - but if anyone can beat Barcelona at their peak, then Sir Alex Ferguson knows how to do that. I hope they go and do that."