To every Manchester United fan returning to Old Trafford on Tuesday: please, let’s do this the right way.

I fully agree with the right to protest. We could all see a European Super League would not work, but I could not bear witnessing the ugly scenes I saw on May 2.

Look at the image of that injured policeman’s face. I’m all for the passion of Manchester United supporters — no one loves it more than me — but I can’t condone the aggressive behaviour of those who throw around bottles, cameras, rip up seat covers, swing on crossbars and then break into the dressing rooms, breaching Covid bubbles and putting people’s health and safety at risk.  

The protests outside Old Trafford had hallmarks of the hooliganism from the 1970s and 1980s

Has the past year taught us nothing? 

That had all the hallmarks of the hooliganism which marred our game in the 70s and 80s and there’s no place for it at United.

This club has a proud history. Its name is renowned around the world, it has an aura like no other and we need to protect that. We don’t want it tarnished by a mindless minority.

I was inside the stadium for five hours prior to the postponed Liverpool game as the protests built up and I saw how stewards and staff were frightened. It’s not their job to get into confrontations.

These are staff who are fanatical about their club, yet left frightened by their own supporters threatening to harm them. Even breaking into the training ground, what does that really achieve? 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the players can’t answer questions for the owners. The disruption had consequences as it affected the players and their preparation.

I wanted a good nine hours’ sleep before a game and then another one or two hours in the afternoon before an evening kick-off. Last Thursday, United players had to get into the stadium by 1pm and sleep on makeshift beds. 

Pundits were saying the players wouldn’t be affected. That’s no way to prepare to face a team like Liverpool.

I’m an ambassador for the club and I know there will be some who will say I’m bound to support the owners as a result but I played for the club, I’m a massive fan and I want United to be the most successful club in the world. 

Yet you have to recognise there are boundaries. 

Responsibility falls on all of us to retain this club’s charisma, proud tradition and name. Even the media who call for protests, they have to be more careful over what they may incite.

The message from United protesters got through. Joel Glazer has come out and apologised, agreed to communicate better and listen to fans going forward. That is a step in the right direction.

There are calls for an independent regulator to prevent potential splits from the league in the future and again, that can only be good. 

Football was fundamentally built on competition and the beauty of this league is that an Accrington Stanley can always challenge a Manchester United, but the overwhelming message we need to relay is one of unity.

There’s a chance for United to finish the season strongly in second place and win the Europa League. That’s where the fans’ support must be channelled now, not on causing more disruption. I genuinely believe Ole and his side are on the cusp of a change that has the hallmarks of 1990 for United.

Then we won the FA Cup and it started a new era for Sir Alex Ferguson, winning trophies. This is a relatively young team, growing in confidence and showing strong signs of improvement.

With the right support, Ole and the players can be successful. Let Manchester United make headlines for the right reasons: their football.

Bryan Robson was talking to Simon Jones