Rumors of billionaires seeking to buy embattled English soccer giant Manchester United topped the sports agenda in Britain this week.
A future without the Glazer family as owners? Yes, please, many increasingly dispirited United fans would say after nearly a decade of underperformance by one of the world’s most storied sports teams.
And as unlikely as that immediate scenario is – after all, the club is not for sale despite the fact that Jim Ratcliffe, one of the richest people in Britain, expressed interest this week – it is something that many of those supporters will ask during an anti-Glazer march planned by a group of fans ahead of United’s game against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Monday.
The last time such a protest took place before a home game against Liverpool, in May last year, thousands filled the concourse outside Old Trafford, flares were lit, a crowd stormed the stadium and one of the most important football matches worldwide had to be cancelled.
For some, a similar situation would not be so unpleasant.
Not many United fans are excited about the possibility of Liverpool, the team’s fiercest rival, heading to Old Trafford given what happened in the first two rounds of the season.
In fact, it is enough to fill them with dread.
Two games, two losses. Six goals against, only one for – and even that was an own goal. Oh, and to top it off, United are in last place.
If the 2-1 loss at home to Brighton on the opening weekend was bad, the subsequent 4-0 thrashing of Brentford on Saturday was widely regarded as one of the worst results in United’s recent history.
Hence the inevitable hysteria. Is Erik ten Hag, who joined from Ajax between seasons, the wrong appointment as manager? Is Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez the wrong signing as central defender? Why haven’t United signed a defensive midfielder yet? Is this the end for Cristiano Ronaldo at United?
Over the past week a number of players from different positions have been linked to United in the final days of the transfer window, including midfielder Casemiro from Real Madrid and American winger Christian Pulisic from Chelsea. Casemiro’s arrival is likely to come after the Brazilian informed Real Madrid that he wants to leave, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Cristiano has joked on Instagram about his future, saying the media has been “telling lies”.
There is seldom calm around United, whether the team is doing well or badly.
And imagine if United are beaten again on Monday, starting a season with three straight defeats for the first time in the Premier League era (since 1992). How crucial would Game 4, against Southampton away from home, be for Ten Hag?
However, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is taking nothing for granted, even though his team thrashed United 5-0 and 4-0 last season.
“They are a good club, in my opinion,” Van Dijk said. “They have good players all over the pitch.
