Manchester United’s first visit to Hong Kong in 12 years has drawn a surprisingly low level of excitement. About 10,000 tickets for Friday’s exhibition match against a local select team remain unsold. This slow ticket sales rate seems to reflect growing disappointment among fans after a tough season.
Although some fans cheered the team’s arrival at their hotel in West Kowloon, the overall mood was subdued. Players like captain Bruno Fernandes and winger Alejandro Garnacho took time to greet the supporters who had waited for hours. Still, the weak ticket demand points to wider frustration among the club’s followers. This frustration follows their 1-0 loss to the ASEAN All-Stars in Malaysia on Wednesday, where the team was booed by the crowd.
Manager Ruben Amorim is now under pressure to lift the spirits of both his players and the unhappy fans.
Amorim urged fans who can afford tickets to keep supporting the team. He shared how he stood by Benfica during tough years in the 1990s, attending matches even when the team was struggling.
He emphasized that true Manchester United fans remain loyal through hard times. Amorim promised to work hard to improve the team’s performance next season.
Before the friendly match, the team will hold a closed training session. Midfielders Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Amad Diallo will join a pre-match event.
However, with many tickets still unsold just hours before the game, there are concerns this match could add to an already disappointing preseason tour for Manchester United.
