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

After a lengthy break, and with a heightened atmosphere around Old Trafford, this wasn't the return that anyone would've wanted. Spurs dominated possession and territory in the opening half-hour and could have had a healthy lead. Improvement came after half-time and, with a superb goal from Bryan Mbeumo followed soon after by a red card for Rodrigo Bentancur, hope and relief briefly flowed around the stadium. Unfortunately, with United, playing against ten men doesn't feel like an advantage these days... far from it. Next up, it's a trip to Madrid and a genuine Champions League event. Diego Simeone's Atletico are a formidable force, especially at home, and it's the start of a quickfire series of tough psychological and physical tests for Michael Carrick and his squad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Premier League returns after the extended international break and it's a chance for Michael Carrick to reset and get the campaign off on a better footing. If league form is anything to go by, Tottenham Hotspur SHOULD be a useful opposition in that regard, but before last season this fixture hadn't been kind. There are several questions over fitness and availability going into Saturday's game. Will Carlos Baleba make his much awaited debut, what should we make of the various withdrawals from international commitments, and what can we expect from some of United's longer term absentees? And, there have been several news stories away from the pitch as well, big, small, and huge. We update on those, of course, but the main thing is to see an uptick in league form; hopefully a massive international break is as good as a change for Carrick and co. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the final countdown... the top five greatest Manchester United players of all time (according to Andy Mitten). If our previous episode was contentious, the decisions here are more straightforward, albeit the choice between two great midfielders is the one that wracked Andy's conscience more than any... That aside the theme of influence, whether it be through leadership, longevity, strength in adversity, or even just powerful charisma, runs through this discussion. As with many of the top 25, there are controversial elements, too. Whatever you think about the final list, there can be little argument about the vast contribution these five men have made to Manchester United. Knowing about Prefab Sprout, not compulsory. Read more about Andy's choices: Bobby Charlton Ryan Giggs George Best Bryan Robson Roy Keane Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a brief aside (!) we return to our discussion of Manchester United's greatest ever players, as adjudicated by Andy Mitten. If you thought the countdown from 25-11 was tough enough, we're into the top ten and it is not getting any easier. This episode will see us count from 10 to 6 and, on footballing talent alone, it wouldn't be far off a top five. Fascinating characters who created some incredible moments, both on and off the pitch, and a mix of local talent with charismatic imports... causing arguments; it's what Manchester United is all about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's taken eight years to arrive, but the verdict of the Premier League's independent commission has sent shockwaves through football, finding Manchester City guilty on almost all charges of financial misstatements and failure to cooperate with their investigation. The Athletic's David Ornstein broke the story late last week, with statements following from the Premier League and its Chairman Richard Masters. City also made a statement denying their culpability and making clear their intention to appeal. There are now so many questions; what will happen next? What is an appropriate punishment? Might the history books have to be rewritten? (of course, some things simply can't be retrospectively altered) Importantly for us, what will Manchester United's reaction be, and how will it affect football in its aftermath? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who are the greatest players in the history of Manchester United Football Club? And where would you even start if someone asked you to try and figure it out!? Well, that's what happened to Andy Mitten when he decided not to go to the World Cup last summer. Luckily for us, he made a mighty fist of this titanic task with a series of articles for The Athletic. In this first episode of a three-part special podcast series we'll talk about Andy's process, discuss the reaction (both from those chosen and those who missed out), and we'll begin the countdown with numbers 25 to 11. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Financial results... not exactly a subject that gets the heart racing, but with Manchester United they do quite often raise the blood pressure. The Athletic's football finance expert Chris Weatherspoon joins us to analyse the latest numbers, which are more than a little worrying. Inevitably, debt is a headline again, but is it now really starting to put pressure on the club's ability to compete? Perhaps Michael Carrick's performance should be put into context, here; a third-placed finish, it could be argued, was an over-performance when measured against the club's wage bill. It's all a bit gloomy, so we look forward to a break, maybe a trip to the cinema, and to put aside arguments and petty differences with some special podcast episode's on Andy Mitten's all-time Top 25 MUFC players... hmmm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another weekend, another deflating performance in what has been a hugely disappointing start to the new season. Mateus Cunha's late equaliser may have rescued a point but does it do anything for the mood of fans who had been optimistic after the end of term surge last time around. As media commentators dig through the potential causes of this season's struggles, the running stats have become a hot topic. We look at those, and others, to try and get a firmer grasp on what is going wrong and how improvements can be found. And, as we go into a three-week international break followed by a tough run of fixtures, we look at Michael Carrick's reaction to recent results, whether a tactical switch is in the offing, and try to muster some optimism about an October reboot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Brighton fought back from an early two-nil deficit at Old Trafford on Wednesday night they were the first team to achieve that feat in fifty years but the mood around the game and the performance felt much more recent. We try to shake off the deja vu of it all and work out why the spark wasn't there despite Shea Lacey's cracking early goal. Michael Carrick has now lost two consecutive games for the first time as manager. Out of the EFL Cup and with just Fulham to play in the league before a lengthy international break, it feels like there is a growing list of issues for the coaching team to contend with... not all of them fix-able with a Carlos Baleba. Adding insult to insult, club executives are also having to deal with the potential exit of youth team star JJ Gabriel in a very public way. The 15 year-old has asked to have his registration annulled with interest from major clubs in Europe and it looks likely he will leave... what does that mean for the United academy? Hosted on Acast. See…

Not the result we wanted for our first ever post-match livestream, not by a long stretch. What started off as a normal derby flipped its energy dramatically when Phil Foden was sent off for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes; but, if you thought that decision would be the controversy of the day, you were wrong. Erling Haaland gave Manchester City the lead despite a VAR review and the failure to call for an on-pitch review has prompted a statement from the Professional Referees Organisation calling it an 'error of judgement'. Ultimately, though, the team have little justification in blaming referees for the defeat; a lacklustre performance saw them create very few good chances against ten men and those they did were squandered. It's now officially a disappointing start to the season and there is significant pressure to get results against Brighton in the League Cup and Fulham in the league before the international break. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Champions League football returned to Old Trafford on Thursday night and it was... well, it was a routine win against a Sabah team that passed neatly and competed for half an hour but, ultimately, didn't have enough to trouble Manchester United. Instead, we'll concentrate primarily on this Sunday's Manchester derby. It's one of the more hotly anticipated renewals with plenty of interest and intrigue in both red and blue camps. Enzo Maresca will choose from an expensively assembled set of summer signings... but will City have the same vulnerabilities as they did for Michael Carrick's first game back in the manager's job in January? United's team selection will be interesting as well; Matheus Cunha scored his first Champions League goal on Thursday night, but will he get the nod ahead of Rashford or Sesko? It seems unlikely. Further back it could be a big game for Lisandro Martinez who gave a good account of himself in the last derby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“It isn't the Premier League start anyone wanted. One win and just four points from what looked like three of the season's less challenging fixtures sees fan anxiety threatening to creep in. There were positives at Everton, excellent goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko and the continuation of very encouraging signs on the left side through Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford. Two late equalisers conceded, though, whatever you make of the defending, does leave a sense of stalled momentum after Ipswich. Thursday's game against Champions League newcomers will now hopefully see some of that restored going into derby weekend.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A complete rebuild of the Manchester United midfield had already been done when the UK's transfer deadline day arrived this week so the focus switched to players who could deputise for Luke Shaw at left back and Benjamin Sesko as a target-man centre forward. In the end, despite exploring the viability of several targets, the club's decision makers opted not to buy. We take a look at squad depth and try to assess how much of a gamble it was to 'keep the powder dry'. Meanwhile, this weekend's opposition Everton are a potential powder keg after the sale of Iliam Ndiaye and an unsuccessful eleventh-hour bid for Josh Zirkzee. Joining us to look ahead to that Everton game and the start of United's WSL campaign is Cerys Jones who is now working on The Athletic's Manchester United coverage. The WSL campaign may be tough for Eva Olid and her squad after high profile departures. The opening fixtures, including Friday's trip to star-studded London City Lionesses, represent a baptism of fire for the new manager. Hosted…

Manchester United started their Old Trafford campaign a little better than they did on the road; Ipswich may have taken the lead but, in the end, the goals rained in with a third United hat-trick for Bruno Fernandes, one for Bryan Mbeumo, and a perfectly legal own goal deflected in from Harry Maguire's skewed shot. Bruno grabbed all the headlines, of course, but we take a closer look at the performances of two Carrington graduates; Kobbie Mainoo stepped into midfield and he impressed Maguire with his physical work, and the rest of us by dictating the pace of play. And, of course, this game saw the return of Marcus Rashford... Now wearing number nine, the left winger looked sharp and inventive in attack, but also showed the work-rate he may need to display to convince some fans of his desire to succeed back at United. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're live-streaming again for Manchester United's Champions League draw. No prizes for guessing the fixtures, sure you know them by know, but enjoy the ride as we discover exciting trips to Spain, Portugal, and Italy. In amongst the fun, we look ahead to a pretty important Premier League game against Ipswich at Old Trafford, and of course there are only a few days left until the summer transfer window 'slams' shut. Josh Zirkzee may be leaving, but who might come in to replace him? We also compare United's measured strategy to the money spent by other PL clubs in recent days. Is it by choice or necessity, and is it wise? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well, that wasn't the plan at all... Manchester United were beaten 2-0 at Hull City on the opening day of the new Premier League season, and we have to launch ourselves into the new campaign with another post-mortem. Did Hull's leadership decode United's weaknesses from pre-season, especially the defeat to AC Milan, or were Carrick's men simply undercooked? The manager certainly pushed back on the idea that his side lacked passion but there were more questions than answers on Saturday despite a strong-looking bench. With Carlos Baleba's arrival pending final checks we talk about those left-back targets again, but... might a striker be higher on the list of priorities now? Whatever happens, United should have enough for Ipswich at home but we'll discuss that in more detail when we go live again for the Champions League draw on Thursday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talk of the Devils streamed live to the four corners of the globe for the first time on the eve of the 2026/27 Premier League season. The headline news is that a deal is progressing between Manchester United and Brighton for the transfer of defensive midfielder Carlos Baleba. The Athletic's David Ornstein reported 'amicable' negotiations on Wednesday, and Carl is happy, but will the transfer dealings end with an agreement for this long-term target. Baleba won't face Hull City with the rest of Michael Carrick's squad, we can be fairly certain of that, but there are high hopes of an emphatic United win as the Tigers return to the top tier for the first time in a decade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pre-season is over, finishing with a slightly dispiriting 4-2 defeat to Ruben Amorim's AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland, but overall the feelings are positive. So, what are Michael Carrick's priority issues as the start of the new campaign gets ever nearer? That also means it's time for our now-traditional season preview predictions... top scorer? ...player of the season? ...league finish? ...and, of course, Carl's bad take amnesty. We will keep the receipts and check back to see who was closest to the mark. The fixture list looks awfully hectic in comparison to last season. Will the start turn out to be as kind as it looks? How might that early derby go? And, which of United's rivals (if any) will be able to get their stuff together with so many clubs in a state of flux. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester United's penultimate pre-season test ended in a penalty shootout victory over Leeds at Croke Park in Dublin. Following that, Michael Carrick sat down with the journalist pack to discuss the state of his squad, his vision for how he wants this team to play and whether more recruits could be on the way. With the opening day of the Premier League edging closer, what should we expect from United when the competitive action finally gets underway? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another week closer to the new season, and another successful workout for Michael Carrick's squad; 1-1 against PSG in Gothenburg saw Andrey Santos do well again; will he be part of Manchester United's starting midfield on the opening day? The remaining World Cup stars, including Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez, will now join up with the squad as they head to Dublin to face Leeds. There's still time for new faces, and Mason Mount's withdrawal got a few hearts beating, but will Newcastle's insistence that Lewis Hall is not for sale hold? Maybe an alternative target is required. There has been movement in the goalkeeping department, though. The debate over the fee agreed with Middlesbrough for Radek Vitek is an interesting one; could he end up breaking a transfer record of sorts? Click here to read Tom Burrows interview with Brandon Williams on The Athletic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a punchy question with the season still three weeks away and World Cup players yet to return to training, so in once sense no, Manchester United are not Premier-League-ready, but... With no fewer than nine clubs set to have a managerial debut on the opening weekend, including Liverpool, Man City, and Chelsea, are United now a model of calm as chaos reigns around them? Michael Carrick has been able to blood youngsters and slowly build the fitness of his squad in a measured way. Of course, the transfer market is only ever quiet on the surface. Lewis Hall continues to be the subject of speculation but we're working on estimates as to Newcastle's asking price; what price cover for Luke Shaw? And, with Mason Mount impressing his teammates in pre-season, might the recruitment team shelve plans for a third purchase in midfield? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It seemed that Marcus Rashford's time at Manchester United had come to an end. However, with Barcelona making moves for two attacking players and no other obvious suitors, it now looks like he might be back at Old Trafford this season. We debate the pros and cons of a potential return. Rashford is the most famous graduate of Manchester United's academy but the 5-0 pre-season win over Rosenborg showed there is plenty of talent coming through... but breaking into the first team is as hard as it's ever been. It may get harder if another midfielder arrives, as well: we have a small transfer update and discuss the reaction to a club email sent to some season ticket holders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World Cup is over and Manchester United's pre-season has begun, although neither has happened in quite the way we wanted... there are some interesting things to learn about Lisandro Martinez and Marcus Rashford after they saw out contrasting 45-minute shifts over the weekend. Kobbie Mainoo didn't get a single minute from Thomas Tuchel... hopefully his back isn't too sore when he returns to Carrington. Over in Helsinki, United fan Sam Smith lived out a dream scenario as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 over the reds by Wrexham. There wasn't too much of note for Michael Carrick's team although we did get a first outing for Andrey Santos and Leny Yoro at right-back might be significant. Finally, we return to the transfer of Youri Tielemans having had a little time to reflect, and think about who the third midfielder might be should one arrive after Ederson signed a new contract in Italy. Get more information about Jere Virtanen's Manchester United museum in Helsinki here Hosted on Acast. See…

Does anything move faster than the Manchester United news cycle? Talk of the Devils ran a practical test today; when we started recording the deal to bring Ederson from Atalanta was still progressing with no new names in circulation. Twenty minutes later, things were very different! It isn't the first news story to break during a podcast recording, but the move for Aston Villa's Youri Tielemans has a massive impact on the summer transfer window and really changes the landscape for any potential third midfield target. Meanwhile, the World Cup isn't exactly overflowing with positive United stories; unless you're Mark Critchley, that is. And, there's been a fresh vision of the plan for a stadium to replace Old Trafford, with a possible revision of the target date. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester United officials are not alone in knowing that the most pressing area of squad improvement, in order to compete in the Premier League and Champions League next season, is the centre of midfield. Targets were identified long ago and we still expect Brazilian Ederson to become the first acquisition. However, an unexpected double splurge by Tottenham Hotspur, bringing in Newcastle's Sandro Tonali and West Ham's Mateus Fernandes for a potential outlay of £180m, has inflated the market for players in that position? With Manchester City winning the race for Forest's Elliot Anderson, where do United now turn to in their pursuit of midfielders, and how much of what has happened was factored into the transfer strategy. Things should become clearer once players return from the World Cup, but pre-season starts this week. Are we worried? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This was always going to be a World Cup centred episode, but we had hoped the news would be a little happier. Manuel Ugarte has sustained a significant knee ligament injury and while, of course, it will have an impact on United's summer transfer plans our immediate thoughts are with the man himself. Elsewhere in the tournament, there hasn't been an awful lot of action for United participants. Bruno Fernandes has played every minute of every Portugal game, something no other United player has done for their nation, and Kobbie Mainoo is one of four yet to make it onto the pitch. Mateus Cunha is possibly the most encouraging story so far; Brazilian fans are learning to love his style just as Reds did last season and, notwithstanding a difficult test against Japan, here's hoping we'll see his celebrations a few more times. Not that anyone from TotD has drafted him! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back! Alright, we're still scattered across the globe on World Cup duty and the much more important matter of a summer holiday. But, we are podcasting and there is some news to get through... A new Old Trafford may be one step closer with reports that Manchester United have acquired an important plot of land. However, there is still a long way to go and with the club's debt in the news again it's that same old question... how will it be funded? Manchester is so hot right now... literally. But the hottest takes are reserved for transfer news, of course. Is West Ham's Mateus Fernandes, now courted by Spurs, the man to bolster United's midfield? Let's hope his national teammate and namesake Bruno is putting in a good word. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zidane Iqbal has been on a journey; that's a cliche, of course, but in this case it's also literally true... and there are more air miles incoming. The Manchester United academy graduate was raised by a Pakistani father and Iraqi mother just a stone's throw from Old Trafford. He became the first British-born South Asian to represent the club when selected as a substitute in a Champions League fixture in Switzerland. Now playing for Utrecht in the dutch Eredivisie he has also adopted his mother's country of origin as his own, helping them through Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, even scoring himself in the Philippines. Iraq will be in a "group of death" with Norway, Senegal, and France in the US & Canada having qualified by beating Bolivia in a play-off in Mexico. Where next on this footballing odyssey? The Premier League? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Talk of the Devils heads toward our well-earned end of season break (albeit we've one more fun treat for you before we do), it's time for us to take a look at the 2026 World Cup. Man United players would usually be headline acts but this renewal, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA, looks a little different. There's plenty of interest, of course, but it's unclear how central the club's players will be to their national teams beyond Bruno Fernandes and one or two others. Will Kobbie Mainoo force his way into the England XI again? Can Mazraoui's Morocco outdo their 2022 semi-final? We look at every group through an MUFC lens before picking teams in a draft game we'll be tracking throughout the tournament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dust is settling on another Premier League campaign and, as the summer solstice looms on the horizon, it's time for our annual end of season awards. It's a much happier, therefore considerably less tongue-in-cheek, set of awards than this time last year as we decide the player of the year (who's not the marvellous captain bruno) and the best first-season United player. We also choose our favourite from a pretty healthy selection of United goals as well as the best moment not involving a goal. There are no prizes for picking out our favourite podcast guest, but plenty of smackdown for our (very) bad takes revisited. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the last Q&A of the season (or the first of the new one, depending on how you look at it). Either way, it's a whopper, with a massive influx of questions. Mixed fortunes for Manchester United players past/present/on loan/future(?) when it comes to World Cup call-ups. We discuss the merits of Harry Maguire's omission by Thomas Tuchel, and whether Anthony Gordon's Barcelona move will skupper Marcus Rashford's hopes. Ederson looks like he might become United's first midfield signing; what do the lads know of him, more than even they thought... how might the Brazilian fit in to Carrick's plans for next season? And what are those plans? And, of course, the heated question of former players criticising the current team. Do they go too far? Once again, please click here and provide feedback to the TotD team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Carrick was appointed as Manchester United's permanent head coach before the final game of the 2025/26 Premier League season and he will start his two-year contract off the back of a comfortable three-nil win on a beautiful day in Brighton. Bruno Fernandes was once again mobbed by his teammates after his corner was headed strongly home by Patrick Dorgu; he has now made the Premier League assist record his own with 21 for the season. The skipper would go on to score in the game as well with Bryan Mbeumo having finished a slick passing move on a day where everything went right. There were also appearances from the bench for academy players Tyler Fletcher and Shea Lacey, a more positive showing from Mason Mount alongside Kobbie Mainoo, and Luke Shaw completed an entire season of Premier League starts, one of only five players to achieve the feat. To provide feedback on our end of season survey please click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apparently, there have been a couple of domestic trophies decided this week... no, us neither. While Manchester United have made significant progress in the Premier League, it would be nice to be the ones celebrating this time next year. How can that be achieved? Obviously, the big question is on midfield recruitment, and we may be getting closer to some answers there. It would also seem that Michael Carrick and the current coaching staff, with a strong United influence, are the answer in the dugout. But are there other lessons we can learn from rivals, both those succeeding and the ones experiencing difficulties. One thing league winners do, we've learned this week, is get results on the south coast. Bruno and co head to Brighton in the sunshine, as usual, and they will NOT be heading to the beach, but to the Amex where they haven't always had it their own way of late. Time to change that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday, their last home game of the season. However, it was Bruno Fernandes who was the focus of most attention (in the game, at least) as he equalled the record for assists by one player in a Premier League campaign. He can still make it his own at Brighton next week, but really should have done so already going by his remarkable chance-creation stats. We dive in. Outside the game, there was a heartfelt send-off for Casemiro, a man who has made his mark on Manchester United just as he has done on a few midfield opponents over the years (it's in the genes). Elliot Anderson showed he can go head-to-head with the best, but if he's interested in becoming a red he was giving nothing away. Most of all, there was a real feelgood factor as Michael Carrick addressed fans, even if he didn't update us on his employment status. He, and other senior figures, also attended the FA Youth Cup Final defeat to Manchester City. A disappointing end to the academy…

Manchester United will face Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford this Sunday and there should be a good feeling about the place. Results have been close to perfect under Michael Carrick and we understand the club's executive team will recommend his appointment as permanent head coach. So, hopefully Carrick will be staying on, but Casemiro will say a fond farewell to the home crowd after four emotionally charged seasons. The Brazil captain has shown admirable qualities to weather various storms and is arguably having his best spell as he prepares to leave. Long before that, almost as this podcast goes out, we'll know how the U18s have fared in the FA Youth Cup final. It's a first Manchester derby since 1986 and controversy around the late change of venue adds an extra spice to an already interesting match-up; winning would represent a real achievement for United in English youth football's highly competitive environment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We asked a series of questions about the rest of the season on our podcast last Thursday, mostly concerning Manchester United's "squad" players and what they need to do in the last three league game to stake their claim for a prominent role next season. In the first of those three games, at Sunderland, it's fair to say we were left rather underwhelmed by the answers. With the caveat that they haven't played much football recently, and this was an unusually low-stakes fixture, messers Zirkzee, Mount, Amad, even Martinez looked a little flat. Let's hope for the return of Casemiro at Old Trafford next time out and fingers crossed Bruno can get the two assists he needs to become the single-season record holder without needing to get over the line at Brighton. United's captain was rewarded for his stellar season with the FWA player of the season award but chasing that prize gives him and his teammates a mini-target to shoot (or pass) for. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester United will compete for the 2026-27 Champions League and when the draw comes around they will most likely be in Pot 2 which should deliver a couple of high profile matches and some more interesting destinations as well. But, what does that mean for the rest of this season? Will Michael Carrick (still not confirmed as a permanent head coach of the team) choose to rotate a little and give opportunities to fringe players and academy prospects, or is that too risky? It could be expensive, too, with a good chunk of prize money at stake. The trip to Sunderland this weekend can't be taken lightly, even if the opposition's form has tailed off slightly. We also have a couple of news stories with Betway seemingly close to becoming Utd's new training kit sponsor and a frustrating situation with the FA Youth Cup final. Manchester City were drawn as hosts and, while tradition dictates the game be held at the senior stadium, they are carrying out renovations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…

Manchester United are back in the Champions League having done the double over Liverpool, that's the league double against Liverpool. The lads rushed straight to the studio to record this podcast for you, even with Ian feeling a little poorly, and even though United didn't take their 2-0 half-time lead and add a few more to really add insult to injury. As it was, we had to make do with another great winning goal, another goal in a big game, from Kobbie Mainoo. Bruno can get his assists record in the next few weeks, no bother at all! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester United face Liverpool at Old Trafford this Sunday knowing that a win against their biggest rivals will guarantee Champions League football next season. It would also represent an incredible turnaround in the two teams' fortunes from this time last year. It looks good, especially with the hand Arne Slot has at his disposal, but the podcast's confidence is very cautious. Michael Carrick likes to keep his cards close to his chest and he has not been drawn on a potential appointment as permanent manager (or head coach), but he did confirm he had a cup of tea with Sir Jim Ratcliffe last week. Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo will hope to celebrate his new contract with a positive performance in the middle of the park; it's not that long ago he and the club were seriously contemplating his departure. We also hear from Mason Mount about his hopes for next season as the players look to build on the current momentum. And just one more thing; "a win against their biggest rivals"... Are Liverpool actually the number…

Man United ran through this season's full repertoire in beating Brentford at Old Trafford on Monday night. Casemiro header, tick, Bruno assist, tick, Sesko finish, tick, wobbly spell at the back and nervy last five minutes... tick, tick. Casemiro put in a statistically remarkable performance but also did lots of Casemiro things and we're forced, once again, to ask, "is there a chance he'll stay on?" Meanwhile, Bruno keeps coming up with new and interesting ways to impress and entertain us, even though there were sticky patches and we've got fresh fitness concerns. But they did win, for the first time on a Monday since August 2023; thanks to a half-time adjustment from the coaching staff? Carrick's managerial record in this spell now reads won 9, drawn 2, lost 2; he has the most points of any Premier League manager in that time, and his team need just two more to guarantee Champions League football. Bring on Liverpool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester United will host Brentford in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Monday night. The Bees are still in with an outside chance of a top-five finish and Champions League football, but Carrick's men may be able to seal it in this game if other results go their way. However... Today is all about summer transfers on Talk of the Devils. Laurie Whitwell has returned from paternity leave, dropped a big-read on Super Coaches (featuring no mention of Josep Guardiola)... now he's delivered a detailed update on who the club will be pursuing to boost their ranks for next season. Two midfielders are still the priority and there's a long long-list. Budgetary matters are dependent on the time and nature of departures, not least Marcus Rashford whose Barcelona career has stuttered recently. An additional defender is also tipped, with Tottenham's Micky van de Ven having several useful qualities. You can read Laurie's full transfer analysis here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A man who needs no introduction, least of all to Man United fans, Captain Marvel Bryan Robson joins us in the studio for a jam-packed hour of great stories! From his playing career, almost 900 games of it (what injuries?!), winning his first major trophy with Man United, and a few more, European glory, and, of course, the celebrations… We ask him about the current United side as well. What does he make of Bruno, Kobbie, and Casemiro (and who might come next)? And how is former midfielder Michael Carrick doing as manager? Bryan also tells us about advising young sports stars on money matters via his new venture and there’s the matter of his toughest ever leadership gig, dragging Andy away from the microphones and up Kilimanjaro. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's almost done, then. United defied a defensive *crisis at Stamford Bridge to keep their first clean sheet since February and Matheus Cunha delivered the killer blow to see off Chelsea... we don't even need to tell you who provided the assist. Ayden Heaven was, eventually, partnered by Noussair Mazraoui at centre half and, with Luke Shaw and the returning Diogo Dalot either side (and Kobbie in front), they looked fairly comfortable despite a slightly rocky start. Chelsea had the ball and the territory but losing Estevao was a blow and Alejandro Garnacho struggled in his place. All that matters in the end is that two more wins are needed to guarantee Champions League football next season, Bruno is on course for records and awards, and Michael Carrick has settled the nerves again. Good news from Old Trafford as well, where the U18s set up a Manchester derby FA Youth Cup final by beating Crystal Palace with a goal from JJ Gabriel and an extra-time winner from Chido Obi. *opinions may vary Hosted on Acast. See…

Manchester United head to Stamford Bridge for a Saturday night Champions League six-pointer with Chelsea but there's a good chance it won't match up to the all-guns blazing shootout that was Real Madrid at Bayern in this season's quarter final. It has now been confirmed, at the eleventh hour, that Harry Maguire will miss the Chelsea game having had his red card ban extended for an FA charge of abusive language. It's also unlikely that Lisandro Martinez will feature after he was sent off against Leeds, so Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are expected to be Michael Carrick's centre half partnership. Add in uncertain form from United's attackers, and there are question marks there. Meanwhile, Chelsea are adrift after a series of poor performances and results. Fans are showing open hostility to both the owners and the manager and they have attacking problems of their own having failed to score in four of their last five games. Surely, United can take a great stride toward Europe's top table with a win... Hosted on…

Manchester United had three and a half weeks without a competitive fixture and it looked like longer as Leeds swarmed them in the first half at Old Trafford. Harry Maguire was a big miss on the night as United's unfamiliar back four struggled and the Yorkshireman may yet miss the trip to Stamford Bridge. Lisandro Martinez almost certainly will after his controversial red card for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair. What does this result tell us about United's squad depth, the mentality of the fringe players, and Michael Carrick's game management (particularly his reluctance to make changes)? Most importantly, will there be a reaction when the team head to West London next weekend? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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…

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? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.