The final home fixture of the season: with it comes the customary lap of honour at full-time. But for Manchester United, who are already set for their final Old Trafford exploit of the campaign on Monday, the feeling is one that any circuit of the pitch post-match would be more so a lap of shame.
With United already guaranteed their worst Premier League points tally in the competition's history, maybe it would be more reasonable to abandon the concept at all this time around. At this stage of the season, the club have more often than not completed a lap of glory, or have at least had the crumb of comfort through the prospect Champions League football during the next season.
This season, there is nothing of such ilk to be proud about. At present, United are on a run of one victory in seven matches over all competitions. Extending further, they have won only twice in 11 games and have come out on top in four of their past 16 exploits.
Over the course of the season, one manager has been sacked and another has seen his side win a mere 10 games from his 26 in charge over all competitions. From here, the best case scenario is winning the final three matches to head into the summer with momentum.
You read that right. Manchester United are playing to achieve momentum in May. There are no title fights or cup finals in sight. Trophies - the last success now five years ago - are almost a distant memory.
In stark contrast to United, Thomas Frank and his Brentford side have done their fanbase proud in their first ever Premier League season. Now 14th-place in the standings, they are close to confirming their safety in the division, which once appeared under threat during a mid-season lull following a bright start which commenced with an opening night win against Arsenal.
Catalysed by the arrival of Christian Eriksen in January, Brentford are now within a spell of only one defeat in seven matches, a run during which five matches have been won, including a 4-1 victory at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.
United, who beat Brentford 3-1 in the reverse fixture, could see returns for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani as they aim for a league double over Brentford. However, Luke Shaw and Paul Pogba remain absent as Jadon Sancho faces a threat to his involvement for the rest of the season due to "inflammation on his tonsils" which could require an operation.
Whilst Pogba will not have the chance to bow out in front of the Old Trafford faithful with the likelihood that he will leave the club in the summer, there are a number of players who will likely be departing the club in the summer that may have the opportunity for a final farewell on home turf as United players on Monday night. Nemanja Matic is certain to leave the club, whilst out of contract Phil Jones, Juan Mata, Lingard and Cavani may all feature at the Theatre of Dreams for the final time.
Despite there already having been criticism that Rangnick was using players through sentimental value in place of youth team prospects, the United interim manager has insisted, "It is about getting the best possible result and the best possible performance, and not about making any gifts to players."
However, involvement in an under-23 fixture on Sunday likely rules out involvement for Alvaro Fernandez, Hannibal Mejbri, Alejandro Garnacho and Shola Shoretire on Monday night. With a number of first time absentees, the squad is likely to be depleted once more and there may turn out to be scope for some departees to feature.
Rangnick is also set for his final Old Trafford outing at the helm after an ultimately unsuccessful tenure, with confirmation that he will take charge of the Austrian national team going forward alongside a consultancy role at United indicating that his role may be minimal going forward.
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