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

It's been 84 years... well, 24 days actually, but it's felt like years. While Manchester United versus Leeds United is no longer the titanic struggle it has been in the past, it's a huge game as Michael Carrick's men close in on the Champions League.

Just seven games remain in the Premier League season and, with a fifth UCL spot guaranteed and a seven-point cushion between themselves and a misfiring Chelsea, it's looking more and more likely that United will return to Europe's top table.

United have been preparing for the game against Leeds at a training base near Dublin and they will return to Ireland during an exclusively European pre-season schedule which will also included fixtures in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Poland.

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We're in the deepest stretch of the gaping chasm that is Manchester United's March/April Premier League hiatus and we have a very special collaborative episode of Talk of the Devils for you to enjoy.

Hosted by Bobby Faghihi of the excellent Career We Go podcast, it's a Man United quiz with Andy and Critch teaming up against Carl and, a very competitive, Ian to find out who really knows their stuff.

Play along while you listen and let us know how you got on but prepare yourselves for a nail-biting finish in our battle of brains, and nerves!

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Michael Carrick's second spell as Manchester United manager has gone about as well as could have been expected. After our three-part assessment of United's summer transfer objectives, you asked if he is likely to be in charge next season, whether that affects the transfer plans, and if he's a big enough name to attract the right players.

Harry Maguire, along with Kobbie Mainoo, returned to international duty this week but Thomas Tuchel appeared to talk down Maguire's chances of making his World Cup squad. We briefly review a stop-start game against Uruguay and outline why, whatever happens with England, he's important to Manchester United and deserves a new contract.

Marc Skinner's future with the club is being questioned again in some quarters after a disappointing week for Manchester United's women. A spirited performance was spoiled by naive errors in the Champions League and they were thoroughly dismissed by City in the derby. Megan Feringa returns to fill us in on the details.

Read more about Brian Peat's flags here.

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The third, and final, discussion in our trilogy of summer transfer previews is a boutique affair, certainly by our usual standards, as the panellists (with one exception) don't expect much business to be done in this area.

Whether that turns out to be the case could depend on what happens to Joshua Zirkzee. Other than a few fleeting moments, the young Dutchman hasn't got airborne at United and, with potential interest in Italy, a move might open the door for another forward to come in.

And then, of course, there's the matter of how all this is going to be funded. Rasmus Hojlund and Jadon Sancho are almost certain to depart, with Marcus Rashford's move to Barcelona less sure. Could there be other sales?

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It's part two of our early look into summer transfer business, and the first parting of the ways on opinion. Everyone agrees midfield is the highest priority, but how important is it to bring in defensive reinforcements?

The club has been well stocked with centre backs for quite a while now, not least because the team was playing with three of them under Ruben Amorim. Now that the formation requires only two, all is well, right? Spoiler alert: yes, but...

Fullback is where things start to get interesting. Tyrell Malacia is expected to leave and Patrick Dorgu has been employed further forward by Michael Carrick. That means a long-term replacement is needed for Luke Shaw, but how urgently? And then there's the matter of competition/support for Senne Lammens. Plenty to discuss!

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As we enter a lengthy break for the men's first XI it's time to take a look at what will be needed next season with European football, most likely the Champion's League, impending. We will publish three episodes of TotD this week, one on each department of the squad.

In today's first of the three, it's the midfield. Without a doubt the most urgent area of recruitment as United have struggled to negotiate a forty-match season with the current options. Add in the extra games, plus the expected departure of Casemiro, and reinforcements are a priority.

What will be required from the midfield next season, who can provide those qualities, and how will United deal with the noise of agents and rival clubs? it's certain to be a fascinating few months.

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Bournemouth draw, they always draw, and we knew that. The circumstances were a bit more dramatic than expected, however, with Manchester United's manager Michael Carrick describing two of referee Stuart Attwell's decisions as "baffling" and "astonishing".

Still, it was a good game and a good performance. Bruno Fernandes continues to impress spectators and statisticians, Matheus Cunha tormented the Bournemouth defence, and United's league position is very satisfying going into the international break.

Harry Maguire had a full-on evening at Bournemouth and, while Kobbie Mainoo's match experience was a little quieter, the two have also been called up to Thomas Tuchel's 35-man England squad, seemingly an audition for places at the World Cup. They are both also very close, according to reports, to agreeing new club contracts.

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Michael Carrick takes his Manchester United squad to Bournemouth for a Friday night fixture which will be followed by a 23-day break. With a patchy recent record against the Cherries, a win will keep the Champions League charge going during that hiatus.

Will there be a defensive reshuffle? Leny Yoro has regained some form and played very well against Aston Villa, but Lisandro Martinez is expected to be fit and has unique qualities. There's a question mark at right back as well with Noussair Mazraoui, an AFCON champion (for now, at least), pushing for some minutes. Places up front will be interesting, too.

Before that game, there's an FA Youth Cup tie at home to Sunderland. Chris McKenna drops by to discuss that, Andy fills us in on his interview with Steve Torpey, and we round things off with a look at United fans travelling over from the Emerald Isle.

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It doesn't matter who called it first: Aston Villa came to Old Trafford and left with nothing, Michael Carrick maintains his 100% record at home, and United put clear air between themselves and the other contenders for top three in the Premier League.

Bruno put in another inspirational display and assisted two of the three goals; he took the corner that allowed Casemiro to break the deadlock with a trademark header and provided a sumptuous pass for Matheus Cunha to restore the lead after Villa's equaliser. David Beckham's single-season record for United assists is gone; surely the Premier League's overall tally is to follow. We restate the case for him to win player of the season.

Unfortunately for Marc Skinner and co, the women were unable to break their Chelsea hoodoo, defeated two-nil in the league cup final, so it's Champions League or bust for them.

Click here to ease Andy's pain with a subscription to United We Stand.

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The Champions League, is it the be-all-and-end-all of club football? With Manchester United's financial results getting a deep analysis from The Athletic's Chris Weatherspoon and cashflow problems coming into real focus, it has never seemed more important.

Aston Villa are another club for whom chasing the glory and riches of the Champions League has been a huge part of the narrative. They will play Lille in the Europa League, in fact, before they make the trip to Old Trafford for what could prove a crucial head-to-head in the race for Europe's premier competition.

It's also a huge weekend for Manchester United's women; aiming for their second major trophy and to join an elite group of women's league cup champions, they will need to defy a woeful record against their bogey team, Chelsea.

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