Talk of the Devils: The Athletic FC's Manchester United show

It's been an 'interesting' time for Manchester United Women in the last two years or so. Big names have left, crowd numbers wobbling, yet the team's performance is impressively robust.

Uncertainty remains, though, with Marc Skinner's future unclear, an interim boss, and significant question marks about Sir Jim Ratcliffe's enthusiasm for the project.

Charlotte Harpur joins Ian, Carl, and Andy, to look at their pursuit of Champions League football, derby day success, and another FA Cup win.

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No game to report on with the international break underway, so we asked you for a fresh batch of queries and concerns.

Ticket price rises at Old Trafford is the issue of the week, so we dig a little deeper on that, and we think about famous father and son duos in United colours.

There's also, of course, the shape of Ruben Amorim's team and how it might look after the summer window. Finally, is Bruno a club legend, what are the criteria, and do you have to have met Andy in Salford?

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Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho were back on the scoresheet for Manchester United as Ruben Amorim's side made easy work of Leicester City.

Managed by United legend and recent interim manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Leicester aren't the stiffest test in the Premier League right now, but there are real signs of progress after a difficult spell.

Even the news of a ticket price rise was met with relatively good humour as it was less than some had feared. We discuss the ins and outs of that, the international break, and our recent live show at London's Leicester Square Theatre.

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He's done it again, Bruno Fernandes may not be an alpha captain but as a player he leads by example and steps up whenever he is needed; especially when that stepping up is to a penalty kick.

Bruno holds quite a few Europa League records now, but in truth this was a team performance, one that will reassure Ruben Amorim that he can place his trust in some key players.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City are up next, and it's difficult to take pleasure in saying they should not provide much of an obstacle to United's momentum.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United's senior management, and members of the Old Trafford regeneration task force presented plans for a new 100-thousand capacity stadium on Tuesday at Sir Norman Foster's architectural practice in London.

It's a bold design, and one that has drawn mixed reactions from fans and media. We look into the concept, the build strategy, and the persistent question of how this will all be funded.

Sir Jim has been conducting several interviews with media outlets this week and he drew attention with some eyebrow-raising comments about the club's finances and one or two players. Is it just refreshing to have a (co) owner communicating with the public, or can we expect better?

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The pre-match protest organised by the 1958 Group was greater in numbers than most predictions and that energy only served to rev up the atmosphere at Old Trafford on Sunday teatime.

Ruben Amorim's tactics were a slight compromise on one or two of his principles, but the deeper defence allowed United to contain and control Arsenal before Bruno Fernandes served up another set-piece special.

A draw that felt almost like a win, then, and with "La Real" coming to Manchester on Thursday, we're hoping for more of the same in the biggest match of the season so far.

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Joshua Zirkzee scored his first goal in European competition as Ruben Amorim's slimline squad earned a draw in San Sebastian, leaving their Europa League tie with Real Sociedad finely poised.

It could easily have been a win with Manchester United growing into the game after half-time and squandering several good opportunities through profligate finishing and rash decision-making in attack.

But, La Real equalised from the spot and looked much the stronger side at the finish. Might Amorim consider his options for Arsenal with the home leg hanging over that game?

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment in Manchester United with INEOS has brought a welcome re-focusing on sporting achievement as opposed to commercial success. Project 150, encompassing Mission 21 and Mission 1, sets out a clear ambition to have the men's and women's teams winning their respective leagues by 2028, the club's 150th anniversary.

Does this statement of intent, now public knowledge, help channel the attentions and efforts of the club's staff? And is there conflict with recent cost-cutting measures? Chief Executive Omar Berrada is undoubtedly one of the architects of this scheme and responsible for its execution but what about Sir Dave Brailsford, who has no clear job title at Manchester United, and Sir Jim himself?

We attempt to get to the bottom of it all, and assess how likely the club are to achieve their objectives, with Ian, Andy, Laurie, and Athletic Senior Writer Oli Kay.

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With European qualification via the Premier League an outlandish prospect, Ruben Amorim's Manchester United had two hopes of making it back into continential competition. On Sunday, two became one.

Another dispiriting, disappointing showing saw Fulham defy Bruno Fernandes second-half equaliser to progress to the quarter-finals via a penalty shoot-out.

The Champions League may yet save our bacon, but Real Sociedad provide the first of up to four significant obstacles standing in the Europa League route. Hopes for the future may lie with youth, but even that's complicated!

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The r-word has been put to bed after Bruno Fernandes delivered three more set-piece goals (via Morsy, De Ligt, and Maguire), but there was no shortage of drama at Old Trafford on Wednesday night with Andre Onana setting hearts racing again and Patrick Dorgu dismissed on his first home start.

Fighting spirit on the pitch, then, but surely a sombre mood among Manchester United's staff after they were informed of more job cuts by Omar Berrada. We briefly break down the main points with a TotD Extra on executive strategy coming up next week.

Fulham are better than Ipswich, it's fair to say, and they will pose a real threat to progress in the FA Cup. Can this competition provide the boost, and the route to Europe, that it did last season?

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