Manchester United players are reportedly fearful that their families could be targeted by angry supporters amid anti-Glazer protests surrounding Monday's clash with Liverpool.
Red Devils fans have organised a march in the hours leading up to the 8pm kick-off at Old Trafford, as the Glazer family continue to feel the heat in the wake of renewed criticism of their unpopular ownership. Having ruled over United since controversially purchasing a majority stake in 2005, the Americans are now under more pressure to sell the club than ever before following the team's nightmare start to the Premier League season under new manager Erik ten Hag.
After suffering back-to-back shock defeats to Brighton and Brentford, the Telegraph claim that a number of players harbour 'grave reservations' about the impact which Monday's protest may have on their loved ones when old foes Liverpool come to town.
Red Devils stars usually host their family and friends in private hospitality boxes, although they can also secure seats for guests in general admission areas at Old Trafford amongst regular match-going fans. But the report adds that players are hesitant to give tickets out in those zones, with fears that the hostility could boil over if United are condemned to another humiliating loss.
Importantly, supporters groups such as 'The 1958' have stressed that the protests must be peaceful and non-violent, unlike the ones that occurred prior to the Red Devils' match at home to Liverpool in April 2021 which had to be postponed after furious supporters broke onto the pitch.
The concerns have prompted Ten Hag to speak out and call for unity, as the Dutchman explained during his pre-match news conference on Friday: "I can only say the owners want to win. We want the fans behind the team. I am not that long at the club I can see all the background. We have to fight together."
But supporters are still planning to make their voices heard, as this week 'The 1958' issued a statement which read: "[This] ownership... is systematically starving and killing the greatest football institution in world football, for greed. We cannot allow this to happen any longer!
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"This is not about division, this is about unity. All United fans have the right to protest with the 1958 or individually. It is not about confrontation. Anything else plays completely into the Glazers' hands."
Fans recently received hope that the Glazers could eventually cede full control of the club after allegedly entering talks with US private equity form Apollo over selling a minority stake. Meanwhile, Sir Jim Ratcliffe - a boyhood United supporter and Britain's richest man - has declared interested in purchasing a small share through his chemical group, Ineos, so long as it's "with a view to long-term ownership," his spokesperson told the Times.
