Leeds United FC – Manchester United FC Rivalry: Red Devils get another fierce rival in the Premier League, with Leeds United gaining promotion.
Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa had a phenomenal run in the 2nd division of English football, which finally made him earn the Premier League promotion even with the last two games remaining of the Championship season.
The Peacocks won over Barnsley by 1-0 to secure their promotion. The last two decades have been really tough for Leeds United, with the club losing on the Champions League qualification causing the financial doom for the club.
WE ARE BACK!!! @PremierLeague
— Leeds United (@LUFC) July 17, 2020
The semi-finalist of 2001 Champions League crashing down to the Championship then further down to the League One was a painful sight to watch.
But soon, they raised themselves up to the Championship and in 2018, Bielsa joined Leeds United, and the two curses met. Bielsa who himself was praised for his tactical innovation and prowess was never a winner or turned up to his abilities.
Many of his stints at the top clubs have been regarded as failures, his biggest blot is crashing out from the World Cup in the group stages with the talented Argentina squad.
But finally, Bielsa is in the Premier League, and one of his disciples- Pep Guardiola is already ruling the top-flight league in England, their reunion on the pitch after 8 years will be interesting to watch.
Leeds United FC – Manchester United FC Rivalry
The modern-day rivalry between the clubs has been prevalent since the 19th century, with both regions having resentment against each other during the Industrial revolution reflecting it on the pitch during their formative years.
As per the Manchester United website, “In footballing terms, it all began with a 3-0 win for Leeds at Bank Street in Division Two, back in January 1906. The Reds gained revenge in the first outing at Elland Road a few months later, securing a 3-1 victory, but trips to the West Yorkshire ground would become ones to face with trepidation.”
Going many years down the lane, during the era of Busby babes, Manchester United was a dominant force in England while Leeds was also seen as a tough and robust side.
the 1965 FA Cup semi-final, a match which saw a punch up between Jack Charlton and Denis Law. The Yorkshire Post coined the famous line “Both sides behaved like a pack of dogs snapping and snarling at each other over a bone.”
However, in the 1980’s the rivalry slowed down for a while when Leeds United faced relegation in 1982 and didn’t come up till 1990, but after that, the Whites saw an astronomical rise and were the last champions before the Premier League era, in that last season, the Red Devils were constantly on toes against Leeds United for the title.
Both sides from then onwards witnessed a great rivalry until crises marred Leeds and swallowed them back to the Championship in 2004.
