Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his players will be ready for a huge challenge at Leeds United on Sunday.
Solskjaer spoke to the protesting fans this week over the Super League controversy and said with no little understatement that “preparation for Leeds was a bit different", but the United boss knows what is needed at Elland Road on Sunday.
“They mean a lot to me," the former United striker said of matches against old foes Leeds.
“We know the history about the Leeds of the old days, Super Leeds, that was the generation before mine.
“That was my dad's generation and he's grown up with seeing them winning the league.
“I've played in some massive games against Leeds. We had a proper challenge from that team in early 2000s, with, for example, Eirik Bakke playing for them.
“We as a team got stretched against them, we looked forward to those games and we had some fantastic games.
“There was respect for the level, they stretched us. I feel the same now with the Leeds team coming up this year.
“They've shown their quality and they're going to stretch us. We have to be ready for this game, physically and mentally."
A number of fans descended on Elland Road to protest the Super League when founding club Liverpool arrived on Monday, with this weekend United's first match since the competition was announced and fizzled out.
“In a strange way, this situation has brought football together as well and fans together," Solskjaer said.
“Everyone understands – the players, the fans, they haven't been a part of this.
“A Man United fan, a Leeds United fan, they have the same opinion about this topic, so I don't think that's going to be an issue.
“When you play against top teams anyway, when you play against your rival, you expect fans to support their own team."
