Mikael Silvestre sends message to Manchester United fans about anti-Glazer protest

Manchester United fans have been told to focus on supporting the team instead of protesting against the ownership of the Glazers by one of their former defenders.

United fans marched ahead of the fixture with Brighton and Hove Albion on the opening day of the season. The protest, which began at Media City, ended up temporarily closing the club's megastore at Old Trafford.

Supporters who travelled to Brentford on the following weekend made their anti-Glazer feelings known inside the stadium with bedsheets held aloft as the Reds fell to a 4-0 defeat. Fan group The 1958, which has organised the protests to this point, has announced that fans will be marching against the Glazers on Monday ahead of the visit of Liverpool to the Theatre of Dreams.

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However, former full-back Mikael Silvestre says that although he understands fans' concerns, he feels that they should be focusing their energy on supporting the team rather than protesting. He told bettingexpert: "You can demonstrate as much as possible, but right now, what the team needs is support.

"That is why English fans, and generally United fans are really good. They always back the team, given that the boys are giving 100%.

"But if you give 80, or 90%, it is not enough. The other team is giving 100%, every single player.

"It is easy to be the underdog and to go after United. For the fans, I can understand the frustration, and that they are right to raise their voice.

"But focusing on the result and the players, they are lacking confidence, they need the fans’ backup. They need to earn it, but that fight needs to show.

"Within the first five minutes of the game, they can show it, the fight, and if the fans