Oliver Kay in The Times:
'Call it misfortune, call it arrogance, but Manchester United’s supporters will call it nothing short of sacrilege that Malcolm Glazer cast his menacing shadow over the club once more yesterday, the 47th anniversary of the Munich air disaster. This, they will say, shows the American tycoon’s disregard for the club’s rich history as well as his sheer bloodymindedness; others, perhaps followers of rival clubs, will wonder precisely what United’s fans are fighting for.
The club’s unrivalled ability to generate cash is not the only reason why United’s fans are so hostile towards the type of figure that other clubs may greet as a potential saviour. They fear that their heritage is under threat, that the moment they surrender to outside forces will be the moment that Manchester United becomes just another club. Such fears were expressed in pubs on Saturday evening, after their attempts to pay their respects to the victims of Munich went almost unnoticed amid the humdrum of another matchday.
With each passing year, the cord that connects football clubs with their past is loosened. Old heroes die, new heroes emerge, and it seems in many cases that the modern idols are so lacking in substance and feeling that they are not fit to hold a candle to their predecessors. Thank goodness, then, for Roy Keane, a hero for any era and, according to Sir Alex Ferguson, a player who, "in 50 years from now, 500 years from now, will still be remembered as one of the greatest ever at this club".
On Saturday, Keane was the most notable difference between United and a Birmingham City side who, even with chronic injury problems, looked entirely comfortable and were even beginning to threaten an unlikely victory until ten minutes into the second half, when Keane took matters into his own hands. He latched on to Cristiano Ronaldo’s back-heel, rolled back the years with a once-characteristic burst into the penalty area and fired a low shot into the bottom corner past the outstretched right hand of Maik Taylor, the Birmingham goalkeeper.
[Overall}it did not seem like a performance to strike fear into the hearts of Chelsea, but many United supporters feel that bigger issues than the Premiership title are at stake right now. If it came to a choice between silverware and sovereignty, they would suggest that the real battle is that against Glazer.'