Man Utd players risk wrath of fans with plans for final match of season at Old Trafford

Manchester United’s players will do a lap of honour at the end of their final home game of the season against Brentford tonight.

United are limping to the end of a dreadful season which will see them finish a fifth successive campaign without any silverware. Ralf Rangnick’s beleaguered side, who have won just two of their last 11 matches, need to win all three of their remaining games in order to match their worst ever Premier League points tally.

Nevertheless, according to The Daily Mail , United will carry on the tradition of wandering around the pitch after the final home match of the season to applaud the fans for their support throughout the season. The club are understood to feel they are in a lose-lose situation, knowing that if they don’t maintain the tradition they will be at risk of appearing to snub the fans, while doing it could backfire.

The decision from the club’s hierarchy risks aggravating some supporters who have frequently voiced their displeasure with results that have left United in sixth place, with just 55 points from 35 games. Rangnick has been unable to turn things around after taking the reins on an interim basis from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November.

Ironically, any unpleasant scenes after the conclusion of Monday's 8pm kick-off may be saved by the fact that a group of United fans will be busy protesting against another aspect of the club’s demise. The last two games at Old Trafford have been notable for their protests against the club’s owners, the Glazer family.

Another anti-Glazer protest is planned for the Brentford game, with fans being urged to leave their seats in the 73rd minute and therefore boycott the final 17 minutes of the game – one for every year of the Glazers’ ownership.