[asiancigar]

"Keep tinseltown, give us Asia"

America may have the glitz and the glamour, Hollywood and its hullabaloo.

But it is Asia that you will find the true football fan.

So, let the stars come out to paly. Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Will Smith... the whole back lot.

As far as David Gill is concerned, he'll trade tinseltown's A-list for Asia's 'blue collar' fans - any time, any day.

It was obvious that the Manchester United Chief Executive was having a dig at Chelsea who recently made the headlines with their 'Paint The Town Blue' Los Angeles Bash.

After all, even as John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didler Drogba and even Jose Mourinho hobnobbed with the celebrity set, Manchester United were slogging it out in tepid conditions in the Far East.

"For the last few years, Chelsea have been living it up in the off season with tours to this and that US city" said Gill.

"Good for them. They've been having a great time, rubbing shoulders with the stars. That's fine with us.

"We're happy here in Asia, playing in front of packed stadiums at every venue."

Gill was referring to the sell-out crowd at Seoul. Official figures had it at 65,000, but according to insiders, more than 70,000 packed the stands to see the Red Devils beat FC Seoul 4-0.

Indeed, the tickets sold out within four hours and, long before match-time, scalpers were peddling their blackmarket tickets ay US$400 apiece.

Added Gill: "We reckon we're doing the right thing. Anyway, we do what's right for us and we're comfortable with the opportunities that come our way. Just like we're comfortable with our history, our ground, ur heritage and the way we play our football".
"Along the same lines, we're comfortable in Asia. Tell me, is America ever going to be as passionate as Asia?. I wouldn't have thought so. Never".

Gill agreed that with American owners holding the purse strings at Old Trafford, it is inevitable that the lads will have to play a few friendlies in the US.

But he drew a line at making US tour a "must" on the team's of-season agenda.

The Old Trafford club is owned by the Glazer family who are as American as hot dogs and apple pie.

"Obviously, with American owners pumping in the money, it makes sense to go stateside at some stage. But I know the Glazers and they wouldn't insist we go there just because they own the club."

Gilld added: "There's a lot of interest and appetite for Premier League football in Asia and for Manchester United in particular. That's where the Glazers see the growth and that's where we will see growth."

Chelsea have the eyes of the world upon them in Hollywood, but Gill is happy to let Peter Kenyon, his old boss, chase the US Dollar.

Nobody has yet found a way to turn significant profits from soccer in the US.

But, with around 40 million fans in Asia, 750,000 Koreans signing up for a club credit card within 16 months of being launched, and a casino in Macau paying about £1m for Ronaldo & Co to make a guest appearance at their establishment, United certainly seem to know where the money is.

They certainly do - which could have been what prompted Gill taunt Chelsea one more time.

"Do your thing in the US."he said. "Because you'll never be as big as us."

Appropriate response... hehe