Thousands of Manchester United followers indignant on the route of the membership beneath its American house owners took half in a protest forward of the Premier League recreation towards Liverpool on Monday.
The supporters chanted towards the Glazer household — “We want Glazers out” — and held banners calling for the Americans to promote United as they walked from a close-by pub to the membership’s storied Old Trafford stadium throughout the hour earlier than kickoff of one of many greatest matches in English soccer, which United gained 2-1 for its first factors of the season.
Many supporters across the floor have been carrying green-and-gold scarves — the colours of the membership’s 1878 formation — and a few additionally set off flares. There seemed to be a strong police presence on Sir Matt Busby Way on the entrance to the stadium forecourt.
Never neglect that Manchester United beating Liverpool adjustments NOTHING!
We nonetheless need the Glazers OUT! pic.twitter.com/QUJJoUTSIe
— UtdFaithfuls (@UtdFaithfuls) August 22, 2022
The gamers from each groups, together with United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, arrived on the floor earlier than the protest began.
Discontent has soared following United’s poor begin to the season, which has seen the workforce lose each of its video games — 2-1 at residence to Brighton and a 4-0 humiliation at Brentford.
The goal of the vast majority of the anger is the Glazer household, which purchased United in 2005 with a leveraged takeover that loaded debt onto a membership which beforehand didn’t have any. Critics say the Glazers, who additionally personal the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have failed to speculate sufficient of their very own money within the squad or services and have presided over years of failure by England’s greatest workforce.
Payments on curiosity, debt and dividends to the Glazers are estimated to have price United greater than 1 billion kilos.
Fans stroll to the Old Trafford floor, Manchester, England, Monday Aug. 22, 2022, forward of an organised protest towards the Manchester United house owners earlier than the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool. (Peter Byrne/PA by way of AP)
“They are ruining the history, traditions and culture of our great club and (we) will not stand by and watch our club rot away any longer,” mentioned The 1958, a followers’ group that organized Monday’s protest.
Dissent towards the possession, which has simmered because the 2005 takeover, erupted in May final 12 months when a house league recreation towards Liverpool needed to be known as off after the stadium — empty due to pandemic restrictions — was stormed earlier than the sport and hundreds extra supporters blocked entry into Old Trafford. Two cops have been injured in clashes with followers.
That protest was sparked by the membership’s involvement within the failed European Super League breakaway that collapsed amid a groundswell of condemnation from followers and the British authorities.
The Glazers pledged to rebuild belief with United followers within the wake of that protest however there was little proof of that. Joel Glazer, a co-chairman, met in individual with United followers in June 2021 and outlined his intentions to speculate closely in all points of the membership and strengthen fan illustration within the decision-making course of.
Last week, Jim Ratcliffe, the bulk shareholder of chemical group Ineos and one in every of Britain’s richest individuals, expressed an curiosity in shopping for United, quickly after Elon Musk tweeted — jokingly, because it turned out — that he needed to do the identical.
Fans collect to protest towards the Manchester United house owners outdoors the Old Trafford floor, Manchester, England, Monday Aug. 22, 2022, earlier than the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool. (Peter Byrne/PA by way of AP)
The newest protest appeared to move off with none main incident, although some gadgets have been thrown towards Liverpool’s workforce bus because it arrived at Old Trafford.
United gained the final of its report 20 English league titles in 2013, the 12 months managerial nice Alex Ferguson retired. In latest years, two of United’s greatest rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool, have dominated the home recreation.
United hasn’t gained a significant trophy in 5 seasons, its worst run because the early Nineteen Eighties, regardless of the membership having spent $1.5 billion on gamers since 2013.
United’s newest signing, Brazil midfielder Casemiro, arrived at Old Trafford earlier Monday forward of the Liverpool match and was launched to followers on the sector earlier than kickoff as his switch was being confirmed by the membership. He is reportedly costing $60 million, with the membership scrambling to usher in gamers within the last days of the switch window.
This season has began badly, too, beneath Erik ten Hag, its fifth supervisor since Ferguson. There are already query marks over the Dutch coach’s ways and workforce choice.
The way forward for star striker Ronaldo can also be unsure after he pushed to go away throughout the offseason as a result of United didn’t qualify for the Champions League.
Ronaldo was dropped to the bench towards Liverpool, together with membership captain Harry Maguire.
The adjustments have been validated, with United delivering a efficiency of depth and sealing victory because of objectives by Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.
