Ruben Amorim insists he is ready for a ‘hostile’ atmosphere when Manchester United travel to face Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday.
When Manchester United take on Leeds this weekend, it will be the first time Ruben Amorim has come up against the old enemy.
United fans will be eager to see their players engage in battle on the pitch, but the atmosphere in the terraces at least promises to be hostile at the very least.
The Red Devils will be without several players for the game due to injuries and absentees due to AFCON, such as Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo.
Ruben Amorim’s huge injury update news for Leeds United vs Man Utd at Elland Road 🗣️🎙️
Which Man Utd player will be missed the MOST for the Premier League match against Leeds? 😭🤔
Amorim has already warned the young players to be prepared for the game against Leeds, with the United head coach hinting that he is eager to throw them in at the deep end.
Ruben Amorim claims he’s ready for rivalry with Leeds
Amorim has experienced many football rivalries during his time in Portugal, but it will be an eye-opener when he takes his United side to Elland Road.
Sir Alex Ferguson knew how nasty the Leeds rivalry could be, but that didn’t stop him from signing Eric Cantona from the Yorkshire outfit in 1992. That transfer proved to be the catalyst for a lot of success enjoyed by United in the 1990s.
Sir Alex Ferguson once said the intensity of Man Utd vs Leeds makes Liverpool games look calm. Is he right?
When asked about the Leeds rivalry, Amorim revealed what he had been told about it from other people, but it will be different when he sees it up close for himself.
“I heard it is a big derby, a great environment, big rivalry but every game in the Premier League is so tough so it is one more game,” Amorim told reporters this afternoon ahead of the game.
“I know it means a lot to the fans but we need to go there and try to win.”
Amorim was asked a follow-up question about comparing the rivalries in Portugal to England.
He added: “It is different, I have never experienced this one. In Portugal, there is big rivalries, here it’s the same. Different environment, different culture but the noise is going to be big.
“We just have to perform but it is hard to compare different cultures, different derbies, different history. Let’s just focus on the game – it is 11 guys vs our 11 in the beginning and we will try to win.
“When you play for United you need to be ready for everything. You guys have the best league in the world. Every game now and you see every week there is a lot of draws, you never understand what is going to happen at the end of that week.
“So it is going to be tough but it is always tough nowadays in the Premier League.”
What did Ruben Amorim say about Leeds?
Amorim analysed the opposition before the match and was complimentary about their pace, which is something he accepts has been a struggle for United in games.
He is also aware of how Leeds are capable of changing the system mid-game, which adds to the unpredictability they pose on Sunday.
Amorim said: “They have a lot of pace sometimes we struggle with pace. They are confident but we proved we can win any game in any situation, in every context, so we will try to do that again.
“We know they change the system, they have different players in front. The last game they rotated two players [Calvert-Lewin, Okafor] that usually are the starters. So they have good players, good manager, great environment so it is going to be a tough game.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
