Winning streak can't silence dissent. Dedicated fans march on Old Trafford, demanding an end to the "toxic" ownership they believe is destroying their club.
Even after consecutive wins against the Premier League's top two and a sense of optimism, Manchester United fans still plan to protest ahead of Sunday's home match against Fulham.
A march to Old Trafford was called before the morale-boosting wins against Manchester City and Arsenal, and organizers have not backed down, warning they will mobilize against the "inept" management of the 20-time English league champion club.
"Bring energy. Bring the noise. Bring your love for the club," the fan group The 1958 posted on social media this week.
The group has been a strong critic of United's owners: the American Glazer family and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.
Ratcliffe, owner of the petrochemical giant INEOS, took control of soccer operations after buying an initial 25% stake for $1.3 billion in 2024, but the performance has been disastrous, with two managers fired and registering the worst Premier League campaign in history last season.
Despite Uptick, Manchester United Fans Plan Protest Over Club Ownership
The Glazers have been unpopular with fans since their leveraged buyout of the club in 2005. There was hope that Ratcliffe, a childhood United supporter, would bring back the good times, but his minority ownership so far has been marked by high-profile hires and firings, increases in ticket prices, and drastic cost-cutting.
Retired player Michael Carrick is the latest manager, hired until the end of the season, after Ruben Amorim was fired this month. Despite Carrick's wins against City and the leader Arsenal, fan anger toward the owners persists.
The 1958 describes it as a "toxic partnership where the fans are getting the worst of both worlds."
Still, the timing seems strange given United's upturn in form under Carrick, the rise to fourth place in the standings, and into Champions League qualification spots. The match against Fulham is an opportunity for United to achieve three consecutive league wins for the second time this season.
However, fans are determined to make their feelings known to the owners. "We deserve better, and our traditions must be respected," The 1958 said.
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