The Athletic FC

Welcome to the preview from the Athletic FC.

It's the show where we get you set for the weekend's Premier League action.

This week we're looking ahead to a big one in the race for Champions League qualification.

It's Manchester United versus Aston Villa.

And on board today we have Mark Critchley. How are doing, Critch?

I'm not too bad. I wasn't caught out in the rain last night and like yourself, so nice and dry.

Thank you very much. Yeah, a soaking at the city ground for me. We've also got Tim Spears back on board.

Are you okay, Tim?

Hey, how's it going, Matt? Yeah, looking forward to the big game of the week on Monday night. Presume we'll be discussing that at length. Yeah, it's in the quickfire section. I'll be honest with you. But we will get to it. We'll get into some of the other big matchups of Match Week 30 as well. but first we're going to get to our feature presentation.

So after six wins and a draw in week 30 as well. But first, we're going to get to our feature presentation.

So after six wins and a draw in Michael Carrick's first seven games in charge,

Manchester United suffered their first defeat under their interim boss. They lost two one at 10-man Newcastle last week. Creech, what a run it had been, but had that defeat been coming, he said, I'm asking

on behalf of the Peace Goals of Oldham.

I think Peace Goals were like, you saw him clarify his comments this week, and I'd say

you might pick you up on that.

But, yeah, look, I think Carrick has repeatedly said through his time and charged self

not to get carried away, or Carrick away, rather, and I don charged so far not to get carried away or

character away rather and I don't think anybody's getting too character away right now I think

that was certainly the overwhelming feeling after Newcastle that it had been coming and if

you look at the games that have been leading up to it I mean Fullum late winner West Ham

late equalizer Everton a tight game with a late-ish goal.

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