Ralf Rangnick says Man United fans can speak up ‘as long as they protest peacefully and support the team’.
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick insisted fans are entitled to voice their opinion ahead of an expected protest over the club’s ownership ahead of Saturday’s Premier League game against Norwich.
The 1958 group have announced plans for supporters to meet at Tollgate in Stretford on Saturday morning before their march to Old Trafford. They plan to stay outside the stadium until the 17th minute of the game, which means one minute for every year owned by the Glazer family.
There was a heavy security presence around United’s Carrington training ground on Friday after about 30 fans gathered with an anti-Glazer banner before the gathering was dispersed by police.
“We know that football is a game of passion and emotions,” said Rangnick. “I think we can all understand that our fans are disappointed, both with our position in the table and with the performance we put on against Everton.
“But I believe our fans are some of, if not the best in England and as long as they protest peacefully and support the team at the stadium I think they have every right to speak their mind. I can understand that they were disappointed.”
Referring to Friday’s protest, a club spokesman said: “Today there was a small and peaceful protest outside Carrington training ground. We respect fans’ opinions and remain committed to increasing our engagement with them.”
On May 2 last year, Liverpool’s visit to Old Trafford was canceled after a planned peaceful protest – an estimated 1,000 people strong – escalated, with fans breaking into the stadium and causing damage.
See you on Saturday. Be loud, be proud and remember this is a peaceful march and protest that will be part of our long term plan. See previous tweet for location📍 and time details.
Red white and black until we get our club back 🇾🇪 pic.twitter.com/l4yPnfB18W
— The 1958 (@The__1958) April 13, 2022
Feelings against the Glazer family have risen again since the failed European Super League project, but so has frustration at United’s struggles on the field.
Last week’s 1-0 defeat at Everton, coupled with Tottenham’s 4-1 win at Aston Villa, has left United six points adrift of the top four with seven games to go, despite Rangnick insisting the side have changed since his Taking over Ole Gunnar improved Solskjaer at the end of November.
“I think we have,” he said. “We had moments, situations and games and phases where we played well, where we showed that the team can play at a higher level.
“If I can think of games we played against Crystal Palace, West Ham, Tottenham, away at Leeds up to the 70th minute against Aston Villa, we had some games that we played well as a team.
“What we have not been able to do is do it in a sustainable way and over a longer period of time. I’m disappointed about that, I thought we could have played at a higher level sustainably. I’m definitely not happy with that, but we’ll try to do that for the rest of the season.”
Luke Shaw is now expected to miss the rest of the season (John Walton/PA)
They will likely have to do so without England left-back Luke Shaw, who is expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to remove metal bolts from his leg.
Rangnick said last week he expected the 26-year-old to be absent for two to three weeks but the procedure had proved more complicated than expected.
“It looks like he’s going to be out for at least another four or five weeks,” Rangnick said. “It will be difficult for him to be available for the remaining seven games.”
Rangnick also confirmed that Fred, Scott McTominay, Raphael Varane and Edinson Cavani will also miss Saturday’s game, with concerns they will also miss Tuesday night’s game against Liverpool.
“Five players will still be missing tomorrow, including some for the Liverpool game,” he said.
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ralf-rangnick-says-man-united-fans-can-speak-out-as-long-as-they-protest-in-a-peaceful-way-and-support-the-team-41556993.html Ralf Rangnick says Man United fans can speak up ‘as long as they protest peacefully and support the team’.
