The Manchester United squad were understandably quiet on Tuesday as they walked onto the Friends Arena pitch, and it’s difficult to know how they couldn’t be, given that their last training session on the morning before the Europa League final began with a moment’s silence for the people of the city they represent.

It’s almost as difficult not to wonder how they now prepare for and play in a match like Wednesday’s, even if it is one of the most trivial and unimportant questions that could be asked in the wake of an event like the atrocity at Manchester Arena.

This is the peculiar and poignant context of this game now. Every single football-related issue from the build-up to the match or the rest of the season is now rendered irrelevant. It just doesn’t matter in anything like the same way; it feels so irrelevant.

Manchester United's players during the walkabout on Tuesday night (Getty)

Rather than the players thinking about their tactical instructions, “saving” the 2016-17 season, who they’re marking, Champions League qualification, or anything like that, what they were thinking about instead was Monday night’s truly dreadful attack, and who they would have known affected by it.

That was something that immediately struck when, before training, local Wythenshawe lad Marcus Rashford posted a picture of the city’s Piccadilly Gardens with a picture of a heart.

It emphasised the link between the team and town that is often forgotten outside a football world so often presumed to be hermetically sealed off, but also reflects a situation that is so unfair on the players and so hard for them.

They, and the Friends Arena in Stockholm, will become the focus for so much global grief; so much global sympathy. It is after all impossible to escape the highly relevant fact that what is arguably Manchester’s most famous product - this very football club - happen to be playing in a huge continental game less than 48 hours after such an atrocity in the city, even if the “size” of that game now feels so insignificant.

Manchester explosion in pictures Show all 37 1 /37 Manchester explosion in pictures Manchester explosion in pictures People running down stairs as they attempt to exit the Manchester Arena after a blast, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester Twitter/@ZACH_BRUCE/ via REUTERS Manchester explosion in pictures Helpers attend to people inside the Manchester Arena after a suspected suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at the end of an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people PA wire Manchester explosion in pictures Armed officers guard outside a hotel near the Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion, in Manchester, Britain EPA Manchester explosion in pictures Police officers are seen outside the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester, northern England Reuters Manchester explosion in pictures MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Police escort members of the public from the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. An explosion occurred at Manchester Arena as concert goers were leaving the venue after Ariana Grande had performed. Greater Manchester Police have confirmed 19 fatalities and at least 50 injured. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Emergency services arrive close to the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images) Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Police escort members of the public from the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. An explosion occurred at Manchester Arena as concert goers were leaving the venue after Ariana Grande had performed. Greater Manchester Police have confirmed 19 fatalities and at least 50 injured. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Medics deploy at the scene of a reported explosion during a concert in Manchester, England on May 23, 2017. British police said early May 23 there were "a number of confirmed fatalities" after reports of at least one explosion during a pop concert by US singer Ariana Grande. Ambulances were seen rushing to the Manchester Arena venue and police added in a statement that people should avoid the area / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police and fans close to the Manchester Arena, after reports of an explosion Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police deploy at scene of explosion in Manchester, England, at a concert in Manchester Arena AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police stand by a cordoned off street close to the Manchester Arena Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police deploy at scene of explosion in Manchester, England AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police deploy at scene of a reported explosion during a concert in Manchester, England, on May 23, 2017. British police said early May 23 there were "a number of confirmed fatalities" after reports of at least one explosion during a pop concert by US singer Ariana Grande. Ambulances were seen rushing to the Manchester Arena venue and police added in a statement that people should avoid the area AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures An ambulance drives away from the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester Reuters Manchester explosion in pictures Police escort members of the public from the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures A woman sits in the street in a blanket near the Manchester Arena as police guard the area following reports of an explosion, in Manchester, Britain EPA Manchester explosion in pictures Two women wrapped in thermal blankets stand near the Manchester Arena, where US singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester Reuters Manchester explosion in pictures A Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) bomb disposal robot is unloaded outside the Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion, in Manchester. At least 19 people have been confirmed dead and others 50 were injured, authorities said. It is being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise EPA Manchester explosion in pictures A Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) bomb disposal robot is unloaded outside the Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion, in Manchester EPA Manchester explosion in pictures Members of the public receive treatment from emergency service staff at Victoria Railway Station close to the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Armed police after a suspected terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena at the end of a concert by US star Ariana Grande left 19 dead PA wire Manchester explosion in pictures Emergency services arrive close to the Manchester Arena in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures An amoured police vehicle patrols near Manchester Arena in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures A man carries a young girl on his shoulders near Victoria station in Manchester AFP/Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police officers stand at the Miller Street and Corporation Street Crossroads, in front of the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police block a road near to the Manchester Arena in central Manchester, England AP Manchester explosion in pictures Armed police patrol near Victoria station in Manchester, northwest England. Twenty two people have been killed and dozens injured after a suspected suicide bomber targeted fans leaving a concert of US singer Ariana Grande in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Police forensic officers leave the Manchester Arena as they investigate the scene of an explosion in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures A forensic officer collects evidence on a walkway between Victoria station and Manchester Arena following a deadly terror attack in Manchester, Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures A woman and a young girl wearing a t-shirt of US singer Ariana Grande talks to police near Manchester Arena following a deadly terror attack in Manchester, Getty Manchester explosion in pictures epaselect epa05982725 Susan Walton and daughter Katie, 10 (pictured), who attended the concert of Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena, are seen in Manchester, Britain, 23 May 2017. According to a statement released by the Greater Manchester Police on 23 May 2017, police responded to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017 evening. At least 19 people have been confirmed dead and around 50 others were injured, authorities said. The happening is currently treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise. According to reports quoting witnesses, a mass evacuation was prompted after explosions were heard at the end of US singer Ariana Grande's concert in the arena. EPA/NIGEL RODDIS EPA Manchester explosion in pictures Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Manchester City Council Leader Sir Richard Leese speak to the media outside Manchester Town Hall after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children, as an explosion tore through fans leaving a pop concert in Manchester Dave Higgens/PA Wire Manchester explosion in pictures The media gather behind a police cordon in Manchester Getty Images Manchester explosion in pictures Flowers left close to the Manchester Arena, the morning after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children, as an explosion tore through fans leaving a pop concert in Manchester Danny Lawson/PA Wire Manchester explosion in pictures Ariana Grande concert attendees Karen Moore and her daughter Molly Steed, aged 14, from Derby, leave the Park Inn where they were given refuge after last night's explosion at Manchester Arena Getty Manchester explosion in pictures Signs saying 'We love Manchester' are displayed in a window in Manchester, England Getty Images

There’s no escaping the symbolism of that, the significance, the emotional weight of it all. It is a hugely difficult burden for them to carry. Wayne Rooney was one of a few players said to take the attack particularly badly.

It also provokes a difficult question, especially after the incident ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League quarter-final with Monaco earlier this season. Even if they were very different circumstances, they could well have brought similar reactions, and it would have been very understandable if - like some of the Dortmund squad - the United players did not want to play.

Sources close to the team say that was never really the case, and while it has been “hard” for Jose Mourinho’s squad, they want to play. It has also been mentioned how some are indeed using it as motivation to perform for the city, but how that in itself is mentally heavy for them.

Mourinho must now keep his players focused (Getty)

It is just another difficulty for them, another complication on a day already so difficult. So many United players will be mentally determined to put in a display that serves as a tribute to the city, but it would be completely comprehensible if they were physically unable to do so. They simply shouldn’t have to carry that kind of weight.

Mourinho himself now faces the equally difficult and unenviable task of keeping them focused for that game, since it is ultimately his job, and it was pointed that United’s pre-game press conference was cancelled at the request of the club.

The Portuguese instead issued a statement just before the squad flew to Sweden.

“We’re all very sad about the tragic events,” Mourinho said. “We can’t take out of our minds and hearts the victims and their families. I know, even during my short time here, that the people of Manchester will pull together as one.

“We have a job to do and will fly to Sweden to do that job. It’s a pity we cannot fly with the happiness we always have before a big game.”

There are perhaps fair questions over whether Mourinho should have taken the responsibility to speak publicly as a representative of the city, but it feels small-minded to offer criticism like that at a time like this. It was similarly discordant during Ajax’s press conference when questions about the atrocity were so quickly followed by technical football questions or Ajax’s style of play.

Manchester United's players carry an even greater mental burden now (Getty)

Mourinho was also said by United sources to be hugely impressive in talking to the team about the duty to play for the city, to play for the children that died.

Amidst so much sadness and emotion, the actual team details feel similarly incongruous, although it is expected that Marouane Fellaini will start over Juan Mata in a United team missing the injured Marcos Rojo and suspended Eric Bailly in defence.