From 1991-2013, Man Utd fans were the single most hated fanbase in English football. Their team swept up everything on the pitch and their fans were more than happy to gloat off it.
Despite the hatred that came their way, not many people could argue against the notion that the Man Utd away fans were the best in the country. Eleven years on from their last Premier League title, their away support is still considered the best around in English football, even if some of their own fans believe it has tailed off since the Covid pandemic.
While that may be true, the Man Utd away fans at Selhurst Park last night showed why they still have an elite reputation. For starters, the match was moved to 20:00 on a Monday night, a bank holiday no less, so travel to and from South London could only be achieved by road. The last train to Manchester from London last night departed during the first half.
Secondly, they stood there and watched their team humiliated by Crystal Palace but spent the entire second half in full voice, singing about their love for their club and how they will support them forever more.
United fans travelled 200 miles on a bank holiday Monday to watch their team. The support was unwavering even four goals down. Every one of them will be at Wembley. A fair few will go to Brighton. They deserve to watch a team that show a fraction of their pride. pic.twitter.com/bOEEgEgiOO
— Nick (@NickH_MUFC) May 6, 2024
Jamie Carragher hails ‘unbelievable' Man Utd away fans
After the final whistle went, the players on the pitch made their way over to the away end at Selhurst Park to apologise and show their appreciation to the travelling fans. Instead of turning on them, the fans stood and clapped in scenes that surely would have made the entire Man Utd squad feel embarrassed.
The club's manager, Erik Ten Hag, declined to go over to the away fans and headed straight down the tunnel, a move that will do him no favours as the club look set to finish lower than ever before in the Premier League.
One man who heaped praise on the Man Utd away fans after the match was Jamie Carragher. The ex-Liverpool man, who isn't shy about his dislike of United, marvelled at the away end as he watched on from the Sky Sports studio after the final whistle.
“That is unbelievable support.” @Carra23 and @youngy18 give huge credit to the Manchester United fans for singing after the 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace 👏 pic.twitter.com/93efLCKRct
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 6, 2024
Carragher said: “That’s unbelievable, isn’t it? Most teams’ away support is fantastic, they go on the road and they pay the money.
“That is absolutely fantastic from Manchester United fans because you know what? Those players do not deserve that and if they go off thinking ‘it wasn’t as bad as we think because look at the supporters’ reaction’.”