How will Man United cope in the Champions League?

Ayo Akinwolere· Host0:00

[upbeat music] The Athletic FC. Welcome to The Athletic FC podcast with me, Ayo Akinwolere. [upbeat music] Manchester United have confirmed their place in next season's Champions League. So, what do the club need to handle being back amongst Europe's elite? [upbeat music] In with us for this one, we have Adam Crafton, we've also got Laurie Whitwell as well. So we have to start with Manchester United's victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday. A win secured their place in next season's Champions League. Laurie, great start by Manchester United. Flair, poise, it-- all action. The crowd were in on it. A really good first half to say the least.

Laurie Whitwell· Guest0:42

Started right out the gates, didn't they? Fifteen minutes, two-nil up, and that's the kind of start that I think United fans became accustomed to, you know, under Sir Alex Ferguson, and certainly in a game of such significance against a rival like Liverpool. It felt like that was the required beginning. It was explosive. Quite muscular, I think. You know, sort of in terms of United wanting to dominate Liverpool in a physical sense and kinda go straight for the throat. So it kind of, uh, reminded me in parts of the way that United used to go up against Arsenal at times and kind of, you know, just go straight for the jugular really, rather than, you know, try and build into it with possession or whatever. So, yeah, it was, uh, an encouraging opening, and good to see a VAR call go United's way [chuckles] m- more recently 'cause they have had a, a bad rub of it. Maybe we can get into the manu details of Benjamin Sesko's- [laughs] ... fingernails. But, um, in terms of...