It may be a new era at Manchester United in the dugout but fans aren't forgetting their feelings towards the club's ownership.
Red Devils supporters gathered en route to Old Trafford on Sunday ahead of Erik ten Hag 's first Premier League game as United's new manager against Brighton & Hove Albion. The protest saw fans once again voice their disapproval over how the much-maligned Glazer family continue to run the show.
A large group made their way towards the Theatre of Dreams with a giant flag which read: "Fight greed. Fight for United. Fight Glazers," alongside a smaller one demanding: "We want our club back." There was then a protest inside of the famous Munich tunnel just before 1pm, with supporters chanting: "We want Glazers out, say we want Glazers out." The pre-match scenes also forced the club to briefly close their official megastore.
A contingent of the Red Devils fan base have opposed the Glazer family's ownership since their 2005 takeover, most notably a breakaway club being formed by supporters named FC United of Manchester. But since April 2021, when the Glazers signed up to the European Super League alongside 11 other top clubs, fans have grown even more resentful towards the powers at be.
The scenes on Sunday were still a far cry from the violence that caused United's clash with Liverpool to be postponed in the wake of the controversial European Super League decision, which was quickly abandoned due to fan backlash. Co-chairman Joel Glazer promised a "new era of dialogue" in the weeks that followed, but the Old Trafford faithful are still waiting to see tangible change from within the boardroom.
The 1958 group, who realised a statement own social media, saying: "The Glazers are unfit and improper owners. We have shown this over the summer with our digital campaign and revealing other confirmed information about exactly the type of family they are. We will always support the club.
"We will always support the manager.‘We will always rise up against the current owners and any puppet hierarchy they appoint. Join us, stand with us, unite with us to make a stand for what is right. Our club's future is our only motivation. Some things are worth fighting for."
As far as the match was concerned, Ten Hag will be desperate to give supporters some positivity to kickstart their campaign. The United boss decided to start Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench despite Anthony Martial 's injury, as Marcus Rashford was selected as the only recognised true forward. There were full debuts for new signings Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez.
Ten Hag explained his team selection pre-match by telling BBC Sport : "Ronaldo is working really hard to get in the right fitness levels, it will take time. He started pre-season last week. It depends on how quick he is progressing. We should act as a team, I want to see a team performance. Every game, that is the most important. Football is a team sport."
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The Dutch tactician is buzzing to get his tenure officially under way after a promising pre-season tour, affirming to manutd.com : "I really look forward [to it]. It’s really exciting to start on Sunday and we had a pretty good pre-season. I think the squad works really well. We progress, we bring in a way of playing and we’re looking forward to start the season."
Ten Hag added: "I feel the vibe in Old Trafford, and that the team has to be an example for the fans by being brave and working hard and co-operating and then the vibe will return to the pitch from the fans, I am convinced of that."
