Manchester United rivalry: Elvedi needs no extra motivation

Nico Elvedi says Leeds need no extra motivation for the Manchester United rivalry as he prepares for his first taste of the fixture at Elland Road.

The defender compared the occasion with Borussia Monchengladbach’s derby against Cologne, and hopes to repeat a happy memory from his time in Germany.

Elvedi ready for Manchester United rivalry

Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, in an interview reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, Elvedi said he already understood the importance of the match before joining Leeds.

“I think we don’t need extra motivation for this game against Manchester United,” he said. “I think it’s a very special game and we are looking forward to this. Of course we want to win this game.”

Elvedi added that people had reminded him of the Manchester United rivalry after he arrived. His message was clear: he knows how much a result would mean to Leeds supporters.

The Swiss defender sees echoes of the Manchester United rivalry in another fiercely contested fixture from his years at Gladbach. Their meetings with Cologne gave him an understanding of how a derby can shape a season for fans.

A derby memory Elvedi hopes to repeat

Asked about a similar game in Germany, Elvedi pointed to the Rhine derby. He described Cologne as a major rival and those matches as the most important of the year for supporters.

There is also a personal reason for him to remember the fixture fondly. Elvedi recalled scoring in a 1-0 victory and offered a simple hope for Sunday.

“I remember one game I scored a goal and we won 1-0,” he said. “Maybe this weekend again we can repeat it.”

That is a hope, rather than a prediction. The immediate task is to help Leeds respond after their 2-1 defeat at Arsenal and prepare for a different challenge against United.

The Manchester United rivalry adds its own edge to that preparation. Leeds’ midfield contest with United will be one part of the test, while Elvedi and his fellow defenders will have their own work to do.

The Manchester United rivalry comes to Elland Road on Sunday. For Elvedi, the occasion is new, but the feeling around a derby is already familiar.