Manchester United fans snubbed the chance to protest against the Glazers last weekend. That was in a goalless draw with Wolves, when nobody dared leave just in case a moment of magic was produced. But that doesn’t mean fans have suddenly u-turned on the American owners – far from it.
These are dark days for Manchester United.
They experienced a blip, a stumble and a fall under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho but things under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have been even worse than any of his three predecessors.
United fans won’t turn on their manager, not when he gloriously fired them to Champions League glory in 1999 and seems to want, so badly, the club to be above Liverpool and back on their perch.
The majority of the players will escape criticism from supporters, too.
But it’s the Glazers, and Ed Woodward, who fans blame most for their alarming slide down the footballing pyramid.
No longer do supporters don green and gold in the hope that it will force the Americans out.
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The Glazers certainly won’t leave just yet. The January transfer window was proof of that.
They parted with £46million of their money in order for Solskjaer to snap up Bruno Fernandes. That fee could even rise to as much as £68m.
They also paid £4m to land Odion Ighalo on loan.
What’s also worth noting is how the Glazers have stayed away ever since the club’s dramatic Champions League win over PSG.
They spend their time in America, not the UK. There’s less attention to them over there from a United perspective.
The only time they may consider an offer is the end of the campaign.
Because that’s when the money they’ve been making may begin to dry up. Adidas are unhappy and will be compensated should the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.
Chevrolet won’t be renewing their shirt sponsorship deal and the club’s most-marketable star, Paul Pogba, may be on the move.
For now, United fans will have to preserve.
The Glazers aren’t stupid from an economic point of view. And if the money dries up, and only then, might they even remotely contemplate leaving.
