MANCHESTER, United Kingdom —
Leeds' 18-year wait to welcome
Manchester United in front of an intimidating
full house in the Premier League comes to an end on Sunday in the latest
chapter of a rivalry that dates back 500 years.
اضافة اعلان
The Wars of the Roses between 1455 and 1487 between the House of
Lancaster and the House of York was fought for control of the English throne,
but set in motion a battle for superiority that has existed ever since between
the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Initially inflamed by the Industrial Revolution and the formation of
county
cricket, the two Uniteds of Leeds and Manchester have become the truest
outlet for that enmity on the football field since first clashing for honors in
the 1960s.
Even one of
English football's greatest families was divided as Bobby
Charlton led Manchester United to win the European Cup in 1968, two years after
winning the World Cup alongside his brother and Leeds great Jack.
Leeds' golden era came under Don Revie in the late 1960s and 1970s,
winning two league titles, an FA Cup and reaching the
European Cup final.
However, even then they did not have the riches of the Red Devils.
When Scottish internationals Joe Jordan and Gordon McQueen crossed the
Pennines in 1978, a painful trend was set for Leeds of losing their best
players to Old Trafford.
History repeated itself after Leeds' only other league title in
1991/92.
A charismatic young Frenchman Eric Cantona played a key role in the
run-in to beat United to the title, but manager Howard Wilkinson quickly wrote
him off as a disruptive influence in the dressing room.
United swooped with a fee of £1 million for a transfer that transformed
English football history as Cantona became the catalyst for success under Alex
Ferguson.
Just as Leeds rose again in the early 2000s,
Ferguson picked off Rio
Ferdinand and Alan Smith.
Yorkshire born and bred, Smith said he "would never play for
Manchester United", but did so after a financial collapse that saw Leeds
enter administration and relegated in 2004.
They did not make it back to the top-flight until 2020, but
coronavirus restrictions meant last year's forgettable 0-0 draw at Elland Road was played
behind closed doors.
"Because we were all away during Covid and out of the top division
for so long, everyone will be straining at the leash on Sunday," said Dan
Moylan of Leeds fanzine The Square Ball.
Both sides are under pressure to perform, but as is customary Leeds'
struggles put United's problems into perspective.
Failure to finish in the top four and qualify for the
Champions League would be deemed disastrous for a squad bolstered by the signings of
Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane with the aim of challenging for the
title this season.
However, Leeds are in a battle at the bottom just to make sure they do
not undo all the good work of
Marcelo Bielsa's reign by being relegated.
Bielsa described staying up as "an obligation" on Friday and
is keen to reward a loyal fanbase for their unwavering support in the
Argentine.
"It's difficult to imagine a support bigger than the one we've
already received," added Bielsa.
"The presence of a classic opponent increases the enthusiasm and
it will be precious to be able to witness it.
"Of course, we think more about what we need to give to the public
rather than what we need to receive from them."
What Leeds fans crave is victory when the whites and reds of Yorkshire
and Lancashire clash again on Sunday.
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