WAR OF THE ROSES? BRING IT ON
When Man Utd and Leeds clash there is always fireworks and Solskjaer is delighted this fierce rivalry has been renewed
MANCHESTER UNITED have been attacked, spat at and had tea thrown over them by Leeds fans – but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot wait to renew one of football’s fiercest rivalries.
This version of the War of the Roses has largely been on ceasefire since Leeds’s relegation from the Premier League in 2004, apart from a couple of flare-ups in 2010 and 2011 when the sides clashed in cup competitions.
Solskjaer experienced Leeds’ naked hostility towards United as a player and smiled as he remembered the ‘ welcome’ they always received at Elland Road.
He loved the passion of this fixture, even if trips over the Pennines were like entering a war zone for Sir Alex Ferguson and his players.
Solskjaer is excited about renewing hostilities in the top flight at Old Trafford tomorrow for the first time since February 2004, when he came off the bench in a 1-1 draw.
He feels Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds, with their emphasis on possession and attacking football, are far removed from David O’Leary’s snarling side.
“I can’t wait for Sunday’s game,” said the United boss. “It’s been too long, I know how much it means for supporters and for our club. They were fiery games. There were tackles flying in. We had a few fights of course. Elland Road wasn’t the quietest place when we got off the coach, put it that way!
“The other thing is it’s a different type of Leeds coming up, with a coach who has done a great job and will test us to the limit.”
Solskjaer has several fond memories of playing Leeds and his favourite was scoring twice in a 4-3 win away from home in March 2002.
“I enjoyed scoring two in a win at Elland Road, one a header at the back stick,” he said. “It was a cross from Giggsy.
“They were two good teams back in the day. I liked the build-up to the games, and they tested us.”
It got so bad between the clubs t that Ferguson a admitted he felt fr frightened when Leeds fans surrounded their city centre hotel near Elland Road when the sides last met in the League Cup in 2011.
“I don’t know how many hundreds of them there were, but our hotel was surrounded by seven police vans,” the former United chief once said.
“It was frightening. It was like the film Zulu. Jesus!
“Historically it’s been there for a long time. I don’t know what it is between Leeds and Manchester United, but it’s there and it’s not nice.”
Ferguson reckoned the 1991 League Cup semi-final second leg at Elland Road was even worse – the Leeds fans kicked off when United scored a controversial late winner.
“The crowd invariably gave us the impression that lynching would be too good for us,” he recalled.
“Eric Harrison was on the bench and was attacked by some fans from the main stand just because of his resemblance to me.
“Some of our directors and their wives had tea and other drinks thrown over them. Nice place, Leeds.”