Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson confirmed on Tuesday the English champions will return to the United States for a pre-season tour in 2004.

"We've just had our best start in the (English) premier league, and a lot of that is down to the preparation we had in the U.S. over the summer," Ferguson told reporters in New York.

"I knew immediately we had to arrange to come back next year. All I am interested in is what's best for the players, and I had the power to decide to return because it served us so well."

Ferguson flew to New York to officially announce that United would take part in three friendlies in the United States between the end of July and beginning of August next year.

The European opposition is still to be finalised, but United will play in Chicago, New York and another, as yet unconfirmed venue.

Promoters Champions World hope to match Germany's Bayern Munich against United in Chicago, while the New Jersey-based company is still in talks to bring over Spanish giants Real Madrid as part of the pre-season series.

Ferguson said he also hoped United would be invited to the World Club Championship in July 2005, which could also be staged in the U.S.

United played four games in a ground-breaking tour of the U.S. in July and August and Ferguson believes the relaxed U.S. environment set them up for their solid start to the premier league campaign.

"In terms of top-drawer performances, we don't normally get them until the second half of the season -- but I am very pleased with our form." Ferguson told Reuters.

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