The league season ended how it started at Old Trafford: a 2-1 result, albeit this one was in Manchester United's favour.
This season has been bookended by two 2-1s that feel a lifetime apart. The mood around Old Trafford is not totally harmonious as the Glazer family mull over proposals to end their occupation, though the football is.
Nathan Lyon, the Australian spin bowler, was sat in the directors' box with a Bruno Fernandes scarf draped around his neck. United require no spin on this season even with a final to be played.
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Their players staggered around the pitch for the lap of appreciation with their partners and children, satisfied that they had given the matchgoers a successful campaign. That has not happened in six years. A good season could become a great one on Saturday in north London.
"It was great, so thank you," Erik ten Hag said in a rousing address. "But when I say these words, there's still one game to go and I'm sure these players will give everything to beat Manchester City next week. I'm sure we have a really good chance to take the cup back to Old Trafford."
Kick-off looming and the Stone Roses were still blaring through the speakers when United supporters started chanting about going to Wembley again. They ended the day singing about the national stadium and a third visit this calendar year.
United followers changed their tune to revel in Leeds's misfortune after they conceded in the second minute to Tottenham. It restarted when Spurs scored their second. There will not be a Premier League away day at Elland Road next season. Daniel James, on loan at Fulham from Leeds, emerged to appreciative applause from his former followers.
United banked the points that secured third - only their fourth top-three finish in the last decade - and Ten Hag rotated sensibly before and during the match.
It was a useful warm-up for some ahead of the FA Cup final. Bruno Fernandes occasionally drifted to the flank - where he started against City in the last derby in January - while Jadon Sancho was decent again on the right, tapping in from Fred's bungling charge. Ten Hag did issue an upbeat update on Antony prior to kick-off.
Fred lined up against City in United's uplifting home win four months ago though he has become a fall guy for the annihilation at Anfield in early March. This was only his second league start since then and it was one of those performances where the Brazilian got almost everything wrong. He got it wrong even when the ball fell right for Sancho.
For 54 minutes, Fred could not hit water if he fell out of a boat. Then he played a piercing pass reminiscent of Michael Carrick or Paul Scholes for Fernandes to clip the ball over Bernd Leno. Fred would still be the headline inclusion at Wembley, despite his starting role in the League Cup final against Newcastle.
Ten Hag withdrew Fred in the first batch of changes, potentially signposting his starting status in the capital. Casemiro, withdrawn simultaneously, earned a rapturous ovation that Marcus Rashford even joined in with. Sancho did likewise when Fernandes' number was up in the 84th minute.
If this was an unofficial send-off for David de Gea, he crowned the moment with a rare penalty save - only his fifth in the Premier League and his first at Old Trafford since he repelled Leighton Baines's side-footer in October 2014. Aleksandar Mitrovic's placement was saveable and the stop, with Fulham 1-0 up, was enhanced by Sancho's equaliser.
The roar from the Stretford End was possibly amplified by the sheer surprise at Mitrovic's failure to convert past a 'keeper with a notorious spotkick record. De Gea and Mitrovic shared an amiable exchange when they re-emerged for the second half.
Mitrovic, back at the scene of his FA Cup crime that resulted in an eight-match ban, was more truculent tangling with Tyrell Malacia, conduct that warranted a caution. It was his last act, though he clasped hands with Malacia as he approached the touchline.
De Gea was accompanied onto the pitch by his two-year-old daughter Yanay, reluctant to part from her father, who accompanied her to the touchline where she was reunited with her mother. There is an outside chance this was De Gea's last appearance for United at Old Trafford after as he approaches the final month of his contract.
He received additional recognition at the game's conclusion for the Golden Glove presentation. Kenny Tete's near post header ensured there would not be an 18th clean sheet.
Little should be read into the presence of his daughter after Raphael Varane and Casemiro's offspring were mascots for the win against Chelsea. Harry Maguire, not as likely to occupy the home dressing room at Old Trafford next term, strode out with his nephew and daughter.
On a day often reserved to give youngsters a run-out, it was only the players' children who got on the pitch.
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