The Athletic F.C.

This is Talk of the Devils, the Athletic Show, dedicated to Manchester United.

Coming up today, the way is finally over.

Yes, United are back in action on Monday night against Leeds United at Old Trafford.

We'll preview that game and also look at how United is shaping up for the final leg of their pursuit of Champions League football. We'll ask what we learned from Critchie's trip over to Ireland with the team.

We'll get reaction on Harry McGuire's new contracts and there's a few other bits and bobs in there

as usual. Right, we're back. It's been a while. Andy Critch and Carla here. It's been a huge

break between matches. It's been a bit of a break

between podcasting as well for us. So let's get straight into it. We need a bit of a reminder,

Critch, don't we? Where we're at with United? So third, a seven point cushion to Chelsea

in six. And we know now that fifth will be enough for Champions League football for next season.

So basically four wins away from confirming a place in Europe's elite competition again.

A lot to look forward to.

A lot to look forward to. It feels like it's been an absolute age.

I actually spent this morning familiarising myself with this thing called Association Football

where apparently there's 11 players on each team, 90 minute game, 2, 45 minute halves and whoever scores the most goals win. So I'm glad I've got the basics down back again. Doing the Champions League permutations is a step further than that, but the situation is what it is in the United right in their hands now, don't they? And this is what we've been waiting for. You've gone through all the numbers and the stuff there, but I think there's even a scenario where this possibly gets done by the end of April if results go United's way. If they can beat Leeds, they play Chelsea next weekend, obviously, and that's going to be a huge game and a pivotal game in this. It's all to play for. And look, to think that we are now in this position, given where we were what, three months ago, the last time United were coming up against Leeds United is quite astonishing. But it's a testament to all the work that Michael Carrick's done in since he was appointed and just how things have turned around. Yeah, there were only three points outside the top four. It's not like they were languishing down in 15th and 16. It didn't feel like it, that's the thing. No, because I was just about say, I remember us talking on the podcast about hearing that Jason Wilcox had briefed the squad, said that Champions League football was the expectation, the target for the remainder

of the season. I think we're all a little bit surprised by that, Andy, but I've said four wins.

I mean, too much his time is Chelsea. You know, it might even take as many as that, considering

the form of Chelsea, Liverpool and Astonville. Someone within that is likely to have a bad end to the season.

We just hope it's not Manchester United.

Well, true, yeah.

It was pretty bold of Jason Wilcox in January to say Champions League football

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