Amorim comments overshadow Leeds draw
Talk of the Devils: The Athletic FC's Manchester United show
The Athletic
4.6 • 770 Ratings
🗓️ 4 January 2026
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Leeds away; a 'bear pit' negotiated with several first-choice players missing. Off the back of a dodgy festive period, ordinarily you'd take your point and run.
Yet, the game was almost a footnote today in the context of Ruben Amorim's comments during both his pre- and post-match press conferences. His usually outward demeanour a little different; bleak statements about the transfer window, cryptic references to other managers; a flat refusal to discuss the formation of the team. Is something afoot?
We'll hear from Mr Amorim again before and after Burnley away, a game that now has more than a frisson of intrigue on it. Just four points separate 5th from 14th in the Premier League.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Athletic F.C. |
| 0:19.4 | This is Talk of the Devils, the athletic show dedicated to Manchester United. |
| 0:23.6 | Coming up today, Manchester United go toe-to-to-to with leads at Ellen Road, |
| 0:27.1 | but again, leave with just a point. |
| 0:29.6 | Ruben Amaran gets tongues wagging with provocative press conference comments |
| 0:33.1 | both before and after the game, |
| 0:35.4 | and goals are still the problem, |
| 0:36.5 | as Manchester United prepare for an important trip to Burnley on Wednesday night. |
| 0:46.0 | Hello, Ian Irvin is taking a well-earned break over the new year, so you've got me, Carl Anker, hosting today. |
| 0:53.2 | Ian, enjoy the break. You've earned it. Right, Leeds versus Manchester Night is a big fixture, so we need a very big cast to discuss everything. Joining me today, I've got the man of a hundred stadium visits and even more mild surprises. Mr. Andy Mitten, how you doing? Hi, Carl, just back from Leeds right now. All good. I've got the Newtown himself, Laurie Whitwell. |
| 1:12.4 | Hello, Carl. You're okay, guys. And the person who's often described as the fifth beetle in the mailbox. I just think he's my friend. It's Mark Critchley. How you doing, Mark? Hi, I actually prefer going by Bez. I could basically stand around with Maracas and the podcast will be the same but yeah. |
| 1:27.8 | I've seen none of dance floor. |
| 1:29.0 | You've not got the same rhythm, mate. |
| 1:30.4 | Oh, excuse me. |
| 1:31.4 | Come on. because I could basically stand around with Maracas and the podcast will be the same. But yeah. |
| 1:46.1 | I've seen none of dance floor. You've not got the same rhythm, mate. Oh, excuse me. Come on. You know that's not true. All right then. That's a bunch of preamble. Happy New Year to everyone listening. Shall we just get into this then? Leeds United One, Manchester United One, we'd won this. Mark, Andy, you were both there. What's your assessment? |
| 1:45.2 | When Andy asked me this question coming out, the Manchester United one, we'd won this. Mark, Andy, you were both there. |
| 1:46.1 | What's your assessment? |
| 1:48.6 | When Andy asked me this question coming out the game, |
| 1:53.0 | I said that this is one of those where you take your point and you get out of Dodge. |
| 1:53.9 | That's how it fell. |
| 1:57.0 | I think there's more to say to it than just that. |
... |
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