Former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre has given his thoughts ahead of the fans’ planned protest on Monday.
A section of United supporters are set to protest against the Glazers’ ownership when the Red Devils take on Liverpool next week.
Silvestre has however urged the fans to prioritise support over demonstrations.
The Frenchman told BettingExpert.com: “You can demonstrate as much as possible, but right now, what the team needs is support.
“That is why English fans, and generally United fans are really good. They always back the team, given that the boys are giving a 100%.
“For the fans, I can understand the frustration, and that they are right to raise their voice. But focusing on the result and the players, they are lacking confidence, they need the fans’ backup.
“They need to earn it, but that fight needs to show. Within the first five minutes of the game, they can show it, the fight, and if the fans feel it, they will back them, especially if it is against Liverpool.”
Fans set to protest at Old Trafford
A faction of United supporters, the 1958, have planned a protest before their home game against Liverpool on Monday.
They staged a protest against Norwich last season and had another against Brighton and Hove Albion on opening day.
The aim of these demonstrations is to air their disapproval of the Glazers’ ownership of the club which has brought about some of the lowest periods in United’s history.
Malcolm Glazer bought the Premier League club in 2005 via a leveraged purchase which has now seen United’s debt rise to hover around £500 million after almost two decades while the Glazers have made around £1.6 billion in profit from the club (see the full Swiss Ramble thread for a breakdown).
Since the American’s demise, his sons Joel and Avram have taken charge of the club and things have not gotten any better with the duo periodically taking dividends from the club while only using the club’s revenues to spend on pumping in next to nothing.