Home of United chief Gill attacked in Glazer protest

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Gill returned from a business trip yesterday to find that his £700,000 detached house in Bowdon had been covered in graffiti. The slogans 'Judas Gill' and 'Glazers Out' had been daubed on walls.

The offending words were last night being removed and it is understood the attack was the result of Gill's comments backing the owners in the wake of the club's financial results last week.

Despite opposing the Glazers' initial attempts to buy the club, Gill has since professed himself to be happy with the way the Americans have handled United.

Last week he said: 'The owners have let us get on with it, only getting involved in areas where they feel they are able to bring their expertise, such as in commercial and sponsorship deals.

'There will always be people who won't accept them, even if we were to win three European Cups on the bounce.'

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson is also thought to be vulnerable because he has also backed the owners.

As United prepared for today's match at Reading, assistant manager Carlos Queiroz made the extraordinary claim that Louis Saha will prove to be a better striker than Chelsea's new £15million signing, Nicolas Anelka.

Saha is recovering from an injury and has scored four goals from 19 appearances this season after being dogged by knee problems.

United considered bidding for Anelka but Queiroz claimed Saha is the better player, saying: 'The injury position of Louis doesn't please us. He is not happy. But we know he's a great player.

'A couple of years ago, in direct competition for France, Louis was in front of Anelka. We are very confident he will be ready to play for the last four months of the season.'

United welcome back Owen Hargreaves after a rib injury and also hope knee-victim Paul Scholes can resume contact training next week.

United fly to Saudi Arabia after the game today and may yet take club captain Gary Neville, depending on a fitness examination.