It has been a challenging week for David Gill, the Manchester United chief executive, but if he was feeling the strain of running arguably the most high-profile football club in the world, he was not letting on.

Having returned home on Thursday to find his property covered in graffiti by United supporters registering their opposition to the Glazer family’s takeover again, Gill has been forced to defend the club against accusations of profiting from the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster and the contentious decision to hold a minute’s silence in honour of the victims, all while overseeing a controversial tour to Saudi Arabia.

Gill may argue that it is all in a week’s work, but even by United’s standards it has been a chaotic period. If the vandalising of his house was unexpected and entirely uncalled for, the opposition to the inclusion of a logo of AIG, the club’s shirt sponsor, on a giant tribute photograph to the Busby Babes outside of Old Trafford and the decision to hold a minute’s silence at the Manchester derby on February 10 in commemoration of the 23 Munich victims was not.

Having refused to remove the AIG logo, United have also stuck to their guns over their decision to hold a minute’s silence at Old Trafford, despite fears that the occasion could be marred by disrespectful Manchester City fans.

Kevin Parker, general secretary of the Official Manchester City Supporters’ Group, wrote to United urging the club to hold a minute’s applause instead, but Gill was defiant yesterday. “On the day of the City game, we have various elements planned and we will have a minute’s silence,” he said. “We believe quite firmly that this is a tragedy and, though we understand the modern move to applause, like we did for George Best, it is not appropriate in this particular circumstance.

“We believe it should be a minute’s silence. We have discussed this and other aspects with City and we hope and believe that all supporters – including the 3,000 City fans – will respect that and act appropriately.” Many believe his faith, and that of the club, to be misplaced, but United have not got to where they are by pandering to public opinion, and they are confident that they will be proved right. It is the same story with the Glazers’ takeover, which Gill believes has confounded many people’s worst fears. When compared to the chaos created at Liverpool by American owners, the Glazers could be considered a success, not least for allowing Sir Alex Ferguson to get on with his job without interference. However, rising ticket prices and a money-spinning winter trip to Riyadh for the testimonial of Sami Al Jaber, the former Saudi Arabia striker, have done little to quell the belief that United remain more commercially driven than ever.

Gill, though, is undeterred, even if he did admit being “concerned” after becoming a target for Glazer-hating fans. “It was not dignified [the vandalism], but it is what it is, we have cleared it up and moved on,” he said.

“We’re not going to prove these people wrong because they will always believe they are right, so we have to continue doing what we believe is right and hope the club will go from success to success.”

One person playing his part in the success is Cristiano Ronaldo, although United’s desire to bring an end to attempts to unsettle the Portugal winger cannot have been helped by his mother’s wish for her son to play one day for Real Madrid.

“I don’t like English teams but I know I have to like them because he [Ronaldo] is at Manchester [United],” Dolores Aveiro said. “Before I die, I would like him to play for Real Madrid. I would really like that and then I could die, it wouldn’t matter.”

Brown talks stall

Manchester United are shortly expected to open talks with Patrice Evra over a new contract, but Wes Brown’s future at the club remains uncertain (James Ducker writes). United’s negotiations with Brown have reached an impasse after he rejected the terms of a new four-year deal, with the club refusing to meet his wage demands of about £55,000 a week, and there is a danger of the 28-year-old leaving on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Newcastle United have had a bid turned down for Brown, who has also attracted firm interest from Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

Negotiations with Evra are expected to run more smoothly. The France left back, who is out of contract in the summer of next year, is likely to sign a two or three-year extension on improved terms.

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