Manchester United players found themselves in the same unwanted situation in Kuala Lumpur

For the second Wednesday running, Manchester United had to traipse past dignitaries to collect their silver medals.

The Maybank Challenge Cup was not exactly coveted. It was on the table in a room adjacent to the press conference room. Three of us requested a picture with it, so a few from Manchester managed to get their hands on the trophy.

Some United players tried to make a quick getaway after full-time. Dave Harrison, the director of football operations who finds himself chaperoning United players around stadiums, reminded them to observe the post-match procession.

After United collected their medals, Casemiro, Alejandro Garnacho, Harry Amass and Toby Collyer again tried to make their exit. But no, they were ushered back onto the pitch to observe the trophy lift by the ASEAN All Stars.

Incongruously, the 1997 non-classic Sing Up For The Champions, an official single released by United when they actually were champions, was played as United collected their medals. The lyrics refer to winning the Football League again in Merseyside and namecheck Ryan Giggs, Gary Pallister, Teddy Sheringham, Andy Cole, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Roy Keane.

Amorim clasped hands and received a warm embrace from the United chief executive Omar Berrada when he collected his medal. He removed it immediately.

"My biggest concern is that we need to have the feeling that we need to win every game," Ruben Amorim said, "even a small-sided game on the street, that kind of feeling every game, every exercise that is what we have to do to push the players."

Nobody feels sorry for the United players after the season they have subjected their supporters to. Whether these players stay or go, the humiliation of losing a final to Tottenham and then to fire