Man Utd bosses' desperate attempt to counter fan anger with tickets for Manchester derby

Manchester United have been compelled to make a humiliating call ahead of their Manchester Derby clash with rivals Manchester City, scheduled for April 6, 2025, at the Etihad Stadium.

With the team languishing in 13th place in the Premier League after a torrid 2024-2025 season, the club has decided to slash ticket prices for travelling fans following a backlash over steep costs at Old Trafford.

The move comes as a stark reversal from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS-led strategy, which saw matchday prices hiked since his 25% stake acquisition 14 months ago, sparking fury among supporters already fed up with the Glazer family’s debt-laden ownership.

The decision follows a weekend of fan unrest, highlighted by the “United United Day” protest on March 29 at FC United of Manchester’s Broadhurst Park, where The 1958 group rallied supporters against the ownership.

With a sit-in planned for the derby, United’s hierarchy opted to lower away ticket prices from an initial £65 to £35, hoping to quell dissent and fill the 3,000-strong allocation.

Sources close to the club admit it’s a “desperate bid” to avoid the embarrassment of empty seats on live TV against Pep Guardiola’s title-chasing City side, who thrashed United 3-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season.

Manager Ruben Amorim, preparing for Tuesday’s clash with Nottingham Forest, called it a “pragmatic step,” though insiders say it’s a blow to INEOS’ image as cost-cutters who’ve axed 200 jobs and Sir Alex Ferguson’s ambassador role.

Posts on X show fans mocking the U-turn, with one quipping, “From fleecing us to begging us back.” The article likely paints this as a rare win for fan power, but a damning sign of United’s decline—13 points off the top four and facing a fired-up City.

For now, the focus shifts to whether Bruno Fernandes and a patched-up squad can salvage pride in a fixture that once defined dominance, not desperation.