A commendable gesture from MU.

Amidst a fragmented fixture schedule and awkward match times, Manchester United chose to stand by its fans by providing free round-trip coach transportation for its furthest away game of the season.

MU is covering travel expenses for fans during their away match against Bournemouth. Photo: Reuters .

The match against Bournemouth in the 31st round of the Premier League, scheduled for 8:00 PM on March 20th (early morning of March 21st, Vietnam time), is one of many times Manchester United has had to play at inconvenient times this season.

With kick-off at Vitality Stadium, many fans will have to take time off work to travel over 400 km to the South Coast.

This was also MU's longest trip in the Premier League this season. Coach bus fares typically cost around £50, while trains are even more expensive. Notably, no public transport options were available to get fans back to Manchester on the night after the match.

In this context, the club decided to fully sponsor the round-trip bus fares for fans who managed to buy tickets. MU was allocated 1,299 tickets at Vitality Stadium, the smallest stadium in the league with a capacity of 11,307 seats. Ticket holders will receive instructions on how to book seats on the free buses, with various options available.

This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. Manchester United discussed it internally as soon as the fixture list was announced last month. This initiative involved collaboration between Director of Fan Engagement Rick McGagh, the Supporters Advisory Board, and the club's Supporters Forum.

For Manchester United, fan culture is an integral part of the team. Photo: Reuters.

The context makes this move even more noteworthy. From February 9th to April 10th, MU only had two weekend matches out of eight rounds.

Previously, in the 12 weeks from the beginning of October to Christmas, they only played one home game on a weekend. The schedule was constantly adjusted due to television broadcasts, and their early elimination from cup competitions made the pace even more inconsistent.

Last October, CEO Omar Berrada worked with Premier League leaders to express concerns about the frequent schedule changes. The club emphasized the importance of attendance culture to English football and suggested announcing the schedule earlier, especially during holidays.

Highlights Arsenal 2-3 Manchester United: In the early hours of January 26th, MU continued to surprise by defeating Arsenal 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium in the 23rd round of the Premier League.

Source: https://znews.vn/hanh-dong-dep-cua-mu-post1629057.html