Michael Carrick: Manchester United Can Thrive Even with Glazer Ownership

MANCHESTER UNITED head coach MIchael Carrick is convinced the club can still be a success under the ownership of the Glazer family.

Up to 6,000 are expected to protest against the before Sunday’s match at home to Fulham.

Avram Glazer and Sir Jim Ratcliffe at the Europa League final in MayCredit: Alamy Joel Glazer (right) has not been to an Old Trafford game since April 2019Credit: AFP – Getty

Fans group and accused him of “no cohesive plan”.

The Glazers have been the majority owners of United since May 2005 and remain deeply unpopular with supporters.

Co-chairman Joel Glazer has not been seen at Old Trafford in nearly seven years while his siblings rarely attend home matches.

In his 2018 autobiography, wrote: “I think the Glazers have been great owners. Couldn’t really ask for anything more.

“The Glazers need a lot of credit for how they’ve gone about it… United have progressed under the Glazers on and off the field.”

United have not won the Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and have failed to qualify for the Champions League in six out of the past 12 seasons.

The club have won only five trophies since Ferguson headed upstairs and United are all but certain to end this campaign trophyless.

Off the pitch, supporters were hit with ticket-price hikes last year while long-time season-ticket holders were relocated to accommodate hospitality seating.

United have also been without a training ground sponsor for almost five years and have not had a training kit sponsor since the summer.

When asked if United could still be a force again under the Glazers, Carrick replied: “Yeah, I think we’ve had a good couple of weeks and we’re moving in the right direction.

Carrick has overseen back-to-back wins since he was appointed earlier this monthCredit: Getty

“We want to keep building on that. I think part of the focus here is never get satisfied with what we’ve just done and keep moving forward on.

“Off the pitch, whatever goes on in and around the club, it’s not really for for us as a playing group to worry about and let that affect performances.

“I think it’s what we feel. What we can grasp at the minute, we feel the upmost support from the supporters as much as ever.

“And that’s where we want to keep moving towards.”

Carrick won every major honour with UnitedCredit: Action Images – Reuters

Sunday’s protest is set to be the seventh significant demonstration against United’s ownership within the past four years.

United fans marched towards Old Trafford before home games against Norwich City and Liverpool in 2022 and Arsenal and Aston Villa last year.

Supporters also staged sit-in protests following the home win against Nottingham Forest in 2023 and draw with Manchester City last year.

The 1958 have stressed the protest will go ahead despite United’s superb back-to-back wins against City and Arsenal.

Carrick is “not offended” by the timing.

A protest against the Glazers is planned for SundayCredit: Getty

“I don’t think it connects with the two wins, to be honest,,” he added.

“It doesn’t affect the team. I fully respect the supporters. They’re incredible. They have been for so long and had a lot of ups and some downs as well.

“I’m not offended by it or anything, and the players certainly aren’t.

“Within the stadium, the support we’ve felt – and that’s been there for all the games that I’ve watched for quite some time – has been of the highest level and I’m sure it will continue to be like that.

“The connection that we’ve had over the last couple of weeks has been pretty special and we’ve both fed off that. I think the supporters have fed off it.

“We have as a group. The players certainly have. And that’s something we need to keep building on moving forward because that’s exactly how we wanted it to be.”