Chris Martin likens Coldplay to Manchester United

Washington -  Chris Martin, the lead vocalist of the famous band Coldplay, thinks that his rock group is the Manchester United of music because they are heavily criticised even  though they are hugely successful.

Martin, who is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow, insists that he is no longer bothered by the band's critics and chooses to focus on the positive.

''You can very easily become infected by the minority negative opinion. I was talking to my dad about Manchester United -- the most popular football team in the world -- and when they show  up at West Ham they get booed. I was thinking, 'Well, it's the same for us',” Contactmusic quoted him as telling the Sydney Morning Herald.

The 35-year-old singer said that the crowds singing their tracks such as 'Paradise' put the negative aspects in perspective.

''When everybody is singing 'Paradise' at the moment it makes me feel so alive and happy. There comes a point where you just accept that whatever you do, someone will like or hate it, so  it's extremely liberating.

''We are incredibly blessed that we are -- 12 years in -- allowed to make whatever we want to make. That's extraordinary. Even in the film world you can't do that. Only a few people can do  that,” he said.

''Basically, we set out with two goals: To either make it big in America or sleep with the sisters from The Corrs,” the singer joked.