United's last parade was in 2013. (Image: 2013 Getty Images)
Imagine the scene: Manchester United have just won the Europa League and the players are enjoying a barbecue at Carrington. Amad is responsible for the music, Bruno Fernandes is flipping burgers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe is making sure plastic cups and cutlery are reused to save money.
The paddling pool is out and Sir Dave Brailsford is discussing his marginal gains concept but nobody is listening. Ruben Amorim is talking to Jason Wilcox and discussing new signings.
It sounds like a comedy sketch, but it might not be too far from reality if United are successful against Tottenham in the Europa League final at the Estadio de San Mames next week.
Amorim is aware that the only way to salvage the season is by winning the Europa League. It's the most important game of the campaign, and one of the most important matches of the last 12 years.
There are a few rewards for winning the Europa League: rescuing a trophy from a miserable season and entry into the Champions League for next year, which would be a huge financial boost.
In February, United published their financial figures for the final three months of 2024 and those bleak numbers confirmed broadcasting revenue had declined by 42 per cent to £61.6million. That is due to United playing in the Europa League instead of the Champions League this term.
The winners of the Europa League are also given €13m (£10.95m), which is an extra sweetener.
In terms of how winning the competition would be celebrated, the suggestion is there would be a barbecue at Carrington for the players and their families instead of an open-top bus parade.
Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in 2011.
United have got plenty of decisions wrong in the last 12 months, but deciding against an open-top bus parade is a good call because this season won't be remembered as a success, even if United win the Europa League.
The Premier League campaign has been absolutely brutal. United lost their 17th game of the season against West Ham on Sunday and they have a goal difference of -11, which says it all.
United's last trophy parade came in 2013 when supporters lined the streets of Manchester to celebrate a record 20th league title. The fans who attended that day didn't expect it to be United's last title for another 12 years.
A reported 500,000 packed into Manchester for United's homecoming parade in 1999 after they had won an unprecedented treble, lifting the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
However, United did not hold an open-bus parade when Erik ten Hag won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup during his two-and-a-half year tenure, or when Jose Mourinho lifted the Europa League in 2017, which was won in the same season as the League Cup.
The same decision was made by the club in 2016 when United won the FA Cup for the first time since 2004, with Louis van Gaal overseeing an extra time victory against Crystal Palace.
Other clubs will parade such trophies. Newcastle recently held an open-top bus parade after winning the League Cup, their first major domestic trophy in 70 years. Leeds and Burnley have just held parades for promotion to the Premier League. Tottenham are likely to have a parade if they win in Bilbao.
But trophy parades at Manchester United should be reserved for Premier League titles.