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

Michael Carrick is the new Head Coach, interim or otherwise, of Manchester United. How will he change the way the team plays and is the target of qualifying for the Champions League, stated explicitly to players by Director of Football Jason Wilcox, really achievable now?It will be a baptism of fire for Carrick and his staff with Manchester City coming to Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime. Will the players returning from AFCON go straight into the team, and can they help Benjamin Sesko build on a promising couple of games? United will need to defy expectation based on a difficult recent record in home derbies.If you haven't already listened to our documentary episodes published on the anniversary of the Glazer takeover of Manchester United, you can find them in our podcast feed back in May, or via the following links:Episode 1: The Story of the Glazer TakeoverEpisode 2: What next for the Glazers at Manchester United Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darren Fletcher's brief stint in charge of Manchester United's first team may be over after a draw at Burnley and an FA Cup third round exit to Brighton. His (expected) departure saw some stern-sounding words for the playing staff after the game on Sunday; will he continue as part of a longer-term interim coaching team?Michael Carrick is now favourite to take the helm, having stepped in with some success in difficult circumstances previously. Does the move to appoint a successful former player signal a change of tone for INEOS leadership and is "heritage" the right way to go? Director of Football Jason Wilcox has some big decisions to make."Flat" is the word Carl chose to describe the FA Cup defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford. The crowd was the quietest it has been, amid a sense of befuddlement It feels a bit like limbo, now, and 40 games will be the shortest full campaign in over a century, but the season can't be considered over with European football still to play for. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first few specks of dust have settled on the sacking of Ruben Amorim, and while Darren Fletcher will be in charge for the FA Cup match against Brighton at Old Trafford, thoughts now turn to who will take the helm until the end of the season.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is interested, but would that be a regressive step, and will the atmosphere be significantly different to the last time he stepped in. Michael Carrick is another option, as is Ruud van Nistelrooy. Is a non-Manchester United figure completely out of the question? More questions for Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe; their answers will draw more scrutiny, and rightly so.Amidst all this, there was a fixture at Burnley and, while two goals for Benjamin Sesko will be a huge personal boost for him, the team failed to win again, missing another big opportunity in this crazily congested Premier League season. If only Shea Lacey's strike had dipped another few inches... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EMERGENCY PODCAST INCOMINGHere we go again: it's an unscheduled, perhaps unexpected, extra episode of Talk of the Devils with reaction to the news - first reported by The Athletic's David Ornstein - that Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim. Youth team manager and former player Darren Fletcher will take charge of first-team affairs until further notice.Amorim's reign lasted 18 months and it was a tumultuous period. Disastrous league form in his first part-season was tempered slightly by a run to the Europa League final, but defeat to Spurs in that game in Bilbao was a body blow.Improved performances and results in the Premier League this season stuttered before Christmas. The team are currently sixth in the table but, with a heavily congested chasing pack making up ground, senior management decided the time was right to dismiss their man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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