MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Even after back-to-back wins against the Premier League top two and new optimism coursing through Manchester United, fans are still planning to protest before Sunday’s home game against Fulham.
A march to Old Trafford was arranged before the morale-boosting wins against Manchester City and Arsenal and organizers are not backing down, saying they are demonstrating against the 20-time English champion’s “dysfunctional, inept ownership.”
“Bring the heat. Bring the noise. Bring your love for the club,” fan group, The 1958, posted on X this week.
The group has been a vocal critic of United’s ownership, the American Glazer family and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.
Ratcliffe, the owner of petrochemical giant INEOS, assumed control of the soccer operations after buying an initial 25% stake for $1.3 billion in 2024, but performances have nosedived with two coaches fired and a worst ever Premier League campaign last season.
The Glazers have been unpopular among fans since their leveraged buyout of the club in 2005. There was hope Ratcliffe — a boyhood United supporter — would bring the good times back but his minority ownership has so far been marked by high-profile hirings and firings, ticket price hikes and sweeping cost cuts.
Former player Michael Carrick is the latest head coach, only until the end of the season, after Ruben Amorim was fired this month. Despite Carrick’s wins against City and Arsenal, fans’ anger towards the ownership remains.
The 1958 describes it as a “toxic partnership where fans are getting the worst of both worlds.”
Still, the timing looks odd given United’s upturn in form under Carrick, rise to fourth in the standings and in the Champions League places. The game against Fulham is a chance for United to produce three consecutive league wins for only the second time this season.
The fans, though, are determined to make their feelings known to the owners.
“We deserve better and our traditions need to be respected,” The 1958 said.
Key matchups
On the back of three straight league games without a win, first-placed Arsenal travels to in-form Leeds on Saturday. Liverpool is without a win in 2026 and hosts Newcastle. Second-placed Man City can keep the pressure on Arsenal with a win at Tottenham on Sunday. Third-placed Aston Villa hosts Brentford.
Players to watch
Bryan Mbeumo’s return from the Africa Cup of Nations has boosted United, with a goal in each of the wins against City and Arsenal. Tammy Abraham has rejoined Aston Villa and will add more depth to Unai Emery’s attack.
Out of action
Patrick Dorgu will reportedly be out for up to 10 weeks with a hamstring injury. Jeremy Doku is set to miss City’s game against Tottenham after hurting his calf in the Champions League midweek, and Villa’s Youri Tielemans is also expected to be out for around 10 weeks through injury.
Off the field
The Premier League is making its moves in the final days of the January transfer window. City has gone big with deals for Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi, Tottenham has signed midfielder Connor Gallagher and Villa brought in Abraham and Douglas Luiz this week to strengthen its unlikely title challenge. The window closes on Monday.
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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
