Kasper Schmeichel warns Glazer protests are harming Manchester United players

Kasper Schmeichel has urged Manchester United fans to channel their energy into backing the team rather than protesting against the club’s ownership, warning that demonstrations directed at the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are hurting the players.

The former Leicester City and Celtic goalkeeper — son of United legend Peter Schmeichel — made his comments on BBC 5 Live in the wake of United’s 3-2 comeback victory over AS Roma at Old Trafford, in which Michael Carrick’s side overturned a two-goal first-half deficit through Bruno Fernandes and a Matheus Cunha brace.

“I completely get wanting to protest and all of that, but like I say, for the players, it just doesn’t help,” Schmeichel said. “So now, if you want your team to do well — which I very much believe they do, nobody wants to come and watch their team lose — now it’s about doing exactly what they did second half. Backing the team the same way.”

Schmeichel acknowledged the frustration felt by supporters, who have directed increasing criticism at chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox alongside the club’s ownership structure. He praised the crowd for staying through a jeered first half and credited the atmosphere they generated after Fernandes’s opener with helping spark the turnaround.

“I like that the fans, they stayed. They could have gone at half time and been frustrated and missed the traffic, but I like the fact that they stayed. And once the first goal went in, that was enough to create the atmosphere.”

However, Schmeichel tempered any optimism about United’s revival, pointing to the difficulty of the fixtures ahead. “I’d still be very tentative, particularly considering your next two games are Aston Villa and Liverpool. That’s a tough ask even if you’re on a good run.”

Carrick, 45, has come under mounting pressure following defeats to Como, Bournemouth and Chelsea, and the Roma win represents only a partial reprieve. Schmeichel’s message to supporters was clear: the players need consistent backing, especially when results go against them.

“When things go wrong, let’s not get negative straight away. Put things into context sometimes,” he said. “Things can go wrong in games, but it’s about the reaction. Then, most of all, it’s the players’ responsibility to give the fans” something to cheer.