A new Leeds United star on Sunday’s Roses derby against Manchester United.
New Leeds United star Nico Elvedi has stoked the fire for Sunday’s Manchester United Roses derby with a a foreign derby comparison and personal hope.
Swiss international centre-back Elvedi has quickly proved a big success since joining Leeds from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer, the defender replacing the injured Joe Rodon during August’s draw against Brentford and having now started United’s last four league games.
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The most recent of those games saw Leeds and Elvedi suffer their first Premier League defeat of the season through Saturday’s 2-1 loss at defending champions Arsenal and the visit of the club’s arch rivals Manchester United is next on the agenda in Sunday’s Roses derby at Elland Road.
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The game is set to provide Elvedi with a first taste of the fixture but the 30-year-old says he arrived at Leeds well prepared on that front, Elvedi declaring that he already knew about the club’s rivalry with the Red Devils.
The defender also believes the Roses rivalry could be compared to Borussia Monchengladbach’s Rhine Derby against FC Koln in Germany, a fixture Elvedi has a particularly fond memory of that he now hopes to repeat at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon.
The fixture presents Leeds with the challenge of bouncing back from a defeat for the first time this season - but Elvedi says there is absolutely no need for any extra motivation when Man United are in town.
"I think we don't need extra motivation for this game against Manchester United,” said Elvedi to BBC Radio Leeds.
“I think it's a very special game and we are looking forward to this. Of course we want to win this game.
“Every fan here in Leeds wants to win this game. I'm looking forward to beat them.”
“I know it's a big rival and I think every fan here in Leeds wants to win this game. I'm looking forward to beat them.
"I knew before that they are rivals and when I came here they told me again. I know that."
Asked if there was a game in Germany that would be similar to the Man United one, Elvedi explained: “Yes, we have one which is also a derby it was against Koln.
"It was also a very big rival so for the fans it was the most important game of the year.
"Everyone wanted to win that so I think it's similar to this game now at the weekend.”
Asked if he had a good record in that fixture, Elvedi recalled: “I think so yeah. I think it's good. I remember one game I scored a goal and we won 1-0. Maybe this weekend again we can repeat it."