He then began singing
One City fan seem riled by the local United supporter’s audacity and goading, but it was a momentary look of annoyance before the pair embraced and Malaysia’s boldest United fan was drowned out by the laughing and singing City supporters.
On the other side of the stadium, banners proclaiming ‘Manchester is Red,’ ‘United 19’ and ‘RIP Tévez’ – in response to the City forward’s end of season brandishing of an ‘RIP Fergie’ banner during the club’s trophy parade – extended the sense of City playing in enemy territory.
But moments later, City officials walked onto the pitch with the Premier League trophy, won so dramatically at United’s expense last season, and that was the perfect response to the Kuala Lumpur branch of the Manchester United supporters’ club.
It was also proof that Mancunian rivalry has now gone global and that the stakes will be as high as ever when the Premier League season kicks off in just over two weeks’ time.
City versus United rarely used to matter beyond the M60, but the noisy neighbours – they are both as vocal as each other nowadays – are now playing out their battle for supremacy in front of a worldwide audience.
After City had announced last week’s prestigious friendly against Arsenal in Beijing earlier this year, United moved to steal their thunder by pitching up in China four days earlier for a friendly in Shanghai.
Both games attracted impressive crowds and the fuss which greeted the two clubs underlined United’s global power and also showed that people now know City’s name in areas that were once red – United red, Liverpool red and Arsenal red.
City still have plenty of ground to make up and they know that, but having matched and then surpassed United on the pitch last season, they are prepared for the longer slog towards claiming some of their neighbours’ share of the worldwide spotlight.
United’s ability to turn heads in Shanghai last week prompted Chevrolet to accelerate talks over the world-record shirt deal agreed with the club on Monday and there is little doubt that losing the title to City has done nothing to dent United’s global image.
They occupy the same stratosphere as the LA Lakers, New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys when it comes to their mystique and pulling power, but City now have a foothold.
Being able to parade the Premier League trophy around the world helps City’s case immeasurably and they know that.
So maintaining their grip on that piece of silverware this season is about more than just success on the pitch – it gives them platform to appeal to a wider audience. That is another big reason why City want to keep it and why United want it back.