Leeds United and Manchester United have one of English football’s fiercest rivalries, and this summer will add another chapter to the story.
Manchester United parted ways with Ruben Amorim after the 0-0 draw at Elland Road in January, with Michael Carrick taking over soon after. Leeds then ended a 45-year wait for a league win at Old Trafford by beating Carrick’s in-form side in April, a result that all but secured their Premier League survival.
The rivalry gained another twist this summer when Manchester United signed Karl Darlow from Leeds. The Whites’ statement announcing his departure made it clear they were not exactly thrilled to see the goalkeeper join their old rivals.
Now the two sides are set to face each other again in pre-season, with tonight’s meeting in Dublin offering another chance for this historic rivalry to take centre stage.
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Manchester United coach looks forward to the Leeds game
Steve Holland joined Manchester United’s staff when Michael Carrick took charge of the team in January this year. The experienced coach has been serving as the assistant manager to the former midfielder.
He is a childhood Manchester United fan and is aware of the history and importance of a game against Leeds. He remembered watching the two sides clash in an FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough in the 1970s.
Manchester United are big in Ireland, but Holland has conceded that Leeds are as big and believes the game in Dublin will be a good marker for both teams ahead of the new season.
“Manchester United-Leeds goes back a long way”, Holland said on MUTV.
“In the 70s, I went to a United-Leeds game at Hillsborough – the FA Cup semi-final.
“Leeds also have a good support in Ireland, as we do.
“Great occasion, and it will be a good guide to both clubs to where we are at before the start of the new season.”
Leeds will look to send an early message to their rivals
The win at Old Trafford was a massive moment for Leeds United, particularly because of the amount of disappointment the ground has brought their supporters over the years.
Watching Leeds dismantle an in-form Manchester United side on their own turf was a memorable moment for a generation of fans who had waited so long to see their team win there.
Wednesday’s game in Dublin may officially be a pre-season friendly, but there is rarely anything friendly about Leeds facing Manchester United. The rivalry guarantees an extra edge, and neither side will be lacking motivation.
Another win over their old rivals would also underline Leeds’ ambitions ahead of the new season. They are back in the Premier League to compete, not simply to survive, and another victory over Manchester United would be a useful early statement of intent.
Stop feeding the frenzy Kris, it’s just another pre-season game. OK, I have been to more MU games, including Hillsborough and have felt the tension in all of them … however, this current group of players aren’t old enough to remember any of that cr*p and they just need to stay profesional to show the fervent fans what they are capable of.