Head coach Erik ten Hag of Ajax gestures prior to the TOTO KNVB Cup final match between PSV and Ajax at Stadion Feijenoord on April 17, 2022 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Photo: VCG

Manchester United's final home game of a disappointing English Premier League season ended with a 3-0 win over Brentford and a lap of honor.

There is little honor for the 20-time champions of England this season, which is arguably the worst at Old Trafford since the early days of Alex Ferguson's reign back in the late 1980s.

Several of the fans had left the Theatre of Dreams with 17 minutes to go of the game against Brentford - part of a pre-planned protest at the owning Glazer family with the minute picked to highlight the 17 years since the Americans took over the club.

It is safe to say that many in the fanbase and in the playing staff are focusing on next season when interim manager Ralf Rangnick will be replaced by Ajax boss Erik ten Hag.

That news was confirmed late last month when the club announced the arrival of the 52-year-old Dutchman as the incoming manager, the latest coach tasked with replacing Ferguson and getting United back to trophy-winning ways.

Ten Hag arrives with a contract until 2025 alongside the option to extend for a further year.

"During the past four years at Ajax, Erik has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe, renowned for his team's attractive, attacking football and commitment to youth," United's Football Director John Murtough said in a statement.

"In our conversations with Erik leading up to this appointment, we were deeply impressed with his long-term vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at, and his drive and determination to achieve that. 

"We wish Erik the best of luck as he focuses on achieving a successful end to the season at Ajax and look forward to welcoming him to Manchester United this summer."  

The end of the season can not come soon enough for many involved with the club, not least Marcus Rashford, who has undergone the most difficult season of his young career this campaign.  

His future is one of many things awaiting Ten Hag in his in-tray with speculation that the out-of-form England international - who missed one of the penalties in England's shootout defeat to Italy in the final of Euro 2020 last summer - could even leave the club where he came through the academy. 

"This season has been difficult but [Rashford's] never wanted to leave Old Trafford," a source told British tabloid The Sun.

"He's optimistic about his chances under Ten Hag and knows that if he plays well for United, he will be in the thoughts of Gareth Southgate.

"He knows Ten Hag will give him a chance if he performs in training, so he's feeling confident and can't wait for a new start."

Rashford is not the only player to have struggled for form this season under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his interim replacement Rangnick.

Rashford's teammate Jesse Lingard is out of contract this summer, along with several other members of the first-team squad, and his future has not been confirmed.

"Jesse hasn't been happy this season. He feels let down that he hasn't played as much as he wanted and feels promises made to him when he came back from West Ham haven't been kept," a source told The Sun of Lingard's future.

"He was resigned to the idea that he was going to leave and make a fresh start at another club.

"But Ten Hag has let it be known he wants to speak with him and if he gives him the assurances he needs, Jesse could be persuaded to stay. United is his club and he's never wanted to leave. Jesse likes the look of Eddie Howe and a move to Newcastle would give him the chance to stay closer to his family in the northwest, which is important to him."

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford chases the ball during the Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield, Liverpool on April 19, 2022. Photo: VCG

Juan Mata, Edinson Cavani and Nemanja Matic are other players among those who could leave, with the club's record signing - and formerly the most expensive player on the planet - Paul Pogba headlining those out of contract.

His future is expected to be elsewhere but Ten Hag will surely have to keep some of those players around as he is unlikely to be able to sign a host of players to add to his squad in his first transfer window.

There are also question marks over the club's top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese goal machine is 37 and not a player who fits with Ten Hag's high pressing youthful ideology on show at Ajax, though he has another year on the contract he signed last summer along with an option for another year.

Teammate for club and country Diogo Dalot is a fan of Ronaldo, as he told the media before the Brentford game.

"I don't have any more compliments to give about the way he works, he's a fantastic human being," Dalot said. "The numbers are there, the stats are there, so we're happy to have him." 

It remains to be seen if Ten Hag will be happy to have him, of course, but the new boss perhaps has to pick his fights given the retinue of players who can walk away when their contract expires.

Dalot is not among them and he is excited for the arrival of the new manager.

"I don't think you need to see a lot to know that he's a great manager. What he's done with Ajax is something outstanding," the Portuguese fullback told Sky Sports.

"He plays very attractive football, I think every fan of United is excited to have a manager like this, and we as the players are as well.

"In our heads, it's going to be clear who the manager will be next season and that's good, because we go for our break... knowing who to expect. 

"Then we'll have time in preseason to work together, get our ideas right and start the new season."

That at least is cause for hope among Manchester United fans, reason to dream that next season might end with a reason for a lap of honor at Old Trafford.