Thousands of tickets remain for Man United's HK friendly amid fan frustration

Manchester United's arrival in Hong Kong for their first visit in 12 years has been met with tepid enthusiasm, with approximately 10,000 tickets remaining unsold for Friday's exhibition match against a local select side. The sluggish ticket sales appear to reflect growing fan discontent following the team's disappointing season.

While rain-soaked supporters cheered as the squad arrived at their West Kowloon hotel, the overall excitement seemed muted. Players, including captain Bruno Fernandes and winger Alejandro Garnacho, took time to acknowledge the fans who had waited for hours, but the lukewarm response to ticket sales suggests broader frustrations among supporters. This comes after the team's 1-0 loss to ASEAN All-Stars in Malaysia on Wednesday, where they were booed off the pitch.

Manager Ruben Amorim now faces increasing pressure to motivate both his squad and disillusioned fans.

Amorim appealed to supporters, saying that those who could afford tickets should continue backing the team. He shared his own experience of supporting Benfica during their difficult years in the 1990s, emphasizing that he never stopped attending matches despite poor performances. 

The manager stressed that true Manchester United fans stand by the club through challenging times and vowed to work toward improvement next season.

The team is scheduled to hold a closed-door training session ahead of the friendly, with midfielders Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Amad Diallo set to participate in a pre-match event. 

However, with tickets still available just hours before kickoff, the match risks adding another disappointing chapter to what has already been a troubled preseason tour.

(Updated 8.47pm)

(Prashan Limbu)