Chapter 136: Clashing with Manchester United

The timing of the international break couldn't have been better for Arthur and his Leeds United squad. With several players only just returning from injury, the break acted like a blessing in disguise. The majority of the team remained at Thorp Arch, resting and recovering, with the only international call-up being young Kasper Schmeichel, summoned by the Danish national team. Sensing the mental and physical fatigue weighing on the group, Arthur made a rare decision—he gave the entire team three full days off. No training. No briefings. No tactical drills. Just rest. "Spend time with your families," he told them. "Sleep. Eat well. Forget football for a few days." And with that, the players scattered. Some went home. Others booked last-minute countryside escapes with their partners. A few stayed in Leeds, enjoying the quiet while it lasted. Arthur himself finally had time to exhale. He'd survived September—barely—but the real tests were only beginning. Because waiting just around the corner was a storm in red. Manchester United. At Elland Road. A fixture steeped in history and rivalry. A grudge match. A northern war. The media, naturally, had already circled the date in bold red ink. Headlines began appearing almost a week before kickoff. Every major outlet in England was hyping up the clash, but none more so than The Daily Mail. "There's no doubt," one column declared, "that this is the headline act of this round in the Premier League. Fans are bracing for fireworks." The paper didn't pull punches in its prediction either: "Despite Manchester United's narrow defeat to Arsenal last weekend, they remain top of the table and look every bit the dominant side this season. Leeds, on the other hand, have stumbled in the league. A draw with Watford and a loss to Blackburn have opened up an 8-point gap between the two sides after just seven matches." Arthur didn't need reminding. He was well aware of the gap. But he also knew that league tables in October meant very little. Especially when Manchester United were coming to town. Beyond the traditional newspapers and television pundits, the real storm was brewing online—on Twitter. With the platform booming in popularity across England, fans had taken their tribal banter from the old forums straight into the world of short, sharp tweets. And this week, the Leeds vs Manchester United debate had lit the platform on fire. It started harmlessly enough. "Leeds are getting battered this weekend," one United fan tweeted. "Haven't lost to them in the league since they got promoted!" A Leeds fan quickly fired back: "Selective memory, mate? What about the League Cup final? 3-2. Remind you who turned it around?" "Sure," came the reply, "but I said league. Try reading before typing." Another joined in: "Not that it matters. Our midfield is finally healthy, and your attack's been dead for a month. You gonna score from another deflected long shot?" The Leeds replies were swift and cutting. "Oh, sorry. Didn't realise there was a rule that said only strikers are allowed to score. Should we file a complaint every time a defensive midfielder scores a screamer?" The back-and-forths were endless. Some fans crafted full tactical breakdowns in threads. Others posted photoshopped memes of Arthur standing over Ferguson with a fake "tactical masterclass" clipboard. Banter, sarcasm, even raw football IQ—all of it spilled across timelines like wildfire. Arthur, for his part, kept off Twitter. But his staff couldn't resist sharing some of the funnier ones. During a morning tactics briefing, assistant coach Chris Davies held up his phone and read aloud one of the tweets: "If Arthur manages to beat United with a patched-up squad and Ibrahimović doing bicycle kicks from midfield again, I'm naming my firstborn after him." The room cracked up. Even Arthur smirked. "I'll hold him to that," he said dryly. But underneath the banter and the noise, the preparation was dead serious. This was Manchester United, after all. Arthur wasn't going to war with a full-strength army. He still had tired legs and fragile recoveries to worry about. But he had one advantage—Elland Road. And for ninety minutes this weekend, the stadium would become a fortress of noise, passion, and defiance. Leeds fans didn't care about league tables or points gaps. They cared about beating United. Always had. Arthur stood by his office window that night, watching the last of the dusk fade behind the training ground. The break was over. War was coming. **** Manchester United had been firing on all cylinders since the start of the season. They weren't just good—they were dominant. Two straight wins in the Champions League had put them comfortably at the top of Group F, while back home in the Premier League, they had racked up five wins, one draw, and just a single loss, putting them first in the table with 16 points. By comparison, Arthur's Leeds United weren't looking quite as sharp on paper. The early-season injury crisis had thrown a wrench into Arthur's plans. The squad had struggled with rotation and fatigue, especially with the added demands of the Champions League. With one game less played, Leeds had only managed two wins, two draws, and two losses in the league—eight points total. That left them 12th in the standings, a full eight points behind their fierce rivals from Old Trafford. The press had already made up their minds. If you looked at recent form and league table alone, it was a no-contest. United were flying high, and Leeds were hobbling along. But Arthur wasn't one to be fooled by surface numbers. He knew Sir Alex Ferguson well—his strategies, his temperament, and more importantly, the pressure he was under. Ferguson might've had a better squad on paper, but his situation wasn't that much easier. Manchester United, like Leeds, were fighting on three fronts—Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. And after last season's embarrassment—failing to even make it out of the Champions League group stage—Sir Alex was under immense pressure to restore United's European reputation. That meant no rest. He'd gone full force in their first two Champions League matches, and though the wins were convincing, the toll on his squad was starting to show. Arthur had no doubt Ferguson had gritted his teeth when he saw Leeds United's manager publicly rip into the FA over the brutal fixture list. The fine that followed—£20,000—became instant media fodder. In fact, when Ferguson saw the headline about Arthur's comments, he reportedly turned to his staff and muttered, "Finally, someone said it." He was even tempted to split the fine with him out of solidarity. *** Finally, it was Saturday—October 14, 2006. By 6:30 p.m., half an hour before kick-off, Elland Road was already bursting with anticipation. The stadium, now upgraded to a capacity of over 50,000, was packed to the rafters. Flags waved. Scarves twirled above heads. The roar of the crowd could be heard blocks away. Outside, the square was crammed with fans who couldn't get tickets, many of them huddled around the giant screen installed just for this match. It was more than just a league game—it was war in white and red. The atmosphere inside was electric. Even in the dressing room tunnels, tension was thick in the air. Security was tight, broadcasters were everywhere, and the buzz of commentary filled the press boxes. TV networks across England had dropped everything to air this match live. Sky Sports, BBC, ITV—every major channel had set up camp at Elland Road. Pre-match panels were already dissecting tactics, lineups, and key matchups. In the VIP section, legends from both clubs were taking their seats. Former captains, old-school managers, even pundits who rarely showed up for league matches had arrived to witness this one in person. And on the pitch? Players from both sides were already out warming up. Arthur stood just outside the tunnel, arms crossed, watching his men with a calm intensity. Ibrahimović was juggling the ball with the tip of his boot, Ribéry was cracking jokes with Xabi Alonso, and young Neuer was pinging long passes to the coaching staff with a grin on his face. "Breathe it in," Arthur told his assistant quietly. "This is what football is supposed to feel like." He knew the challenges. He knew United had firepower. He knew Leeds weren't favorites. But deep down, Arthur didn't care. Because Elland Road wasn't just a football ground tonight. It was a battleground. A cathedral of noise. And when the whistle blew, nothing else would matter. *** Under the bright lights of the Sky Sports studio, Gary Lineker sat confidently behind the glass table, papers in hand and the iconic Elland Road backdrop shimmering on the screen behind him. "Good evening, everyone," he said with his usual charm, eyes flicking to the camera. "Thank you for joining us on Sky Sports for what promises to be a thrilling clash between Leeds United and Manchester United. Let's start with tonight's starting lineups." He shuffled through his notes and looked up with a slight grin. "We begin with the home team, Leeds United. Arthur has gone with his usual 4-4-2 setup—though there are a few surprising changes today." Lineker pointed toward the graphic now displayed on the large screen behind him. "In goal, a bit of a twist—young Manuel Neuer starts instead of Kasper Schmeichel, likely because Schmeichel just returned from international duty. Arthur probably wants to keep his legs fresh." He continued with the defensive line. "On the back four: Lahm slots in at left-back, Maicon takes the right, and at the heart of defense are Cannavaro and Kompany. Solid, no-nonsense, experienced pairing." Lineker leaned forward slightly, a curious tone entering his voice. "Now, here's where it gets interesting—midfield. Mascherano and Yaya Touré sit deep as holding midfielders. But instead of the usual flair-filled setup, Bale and Ribéry take up the wings. Bale's defensive work rate could be key tonight, especially against Ronaldo." He gave a short laugh. "But what really stands out is up front. Torres and Podolski start together, while Zlatan Ibrahimović—who's been in incredible form—is left on the bench. That's certainly unexpected." Lineker tapped the desk lightly. "Arthur's choices today raise eyebrows. Maybe it's a fitness decision, maybe tactical—but it's certainly a bold move against a side like Manchester United." He nodded to his co-host. "Now, let's turn to the visitors." The screen updated to reveal Manchester United's lineup. "Ferguson's gone with a 4-4-2 as well, though it's a diamond in midfield—his go-to shape this season. Van der Sar starts between the posts. At the back: Evra on the left, Gary Neville on the right, and the ever-reliable Ferdinand and Vidic in the center." Lineker moved on briskly. "In midfield, Carrick plays the holding role. Giggs and Ronaldo operate wider, with Scholes in the hole behind the front two. Speaking of which—Rooney and Berbatov lead the line. And yes, this is Berbatov's first return to Elland Road since making the switch to Manchester United." He paused, placing the notes down and smiling. "To help us break down these lineups, we've got a very special guest tonight. A man who knows Leeds United better than most, and has Coached this team before—Kevin Blackwell! Kevin, great to have you." Kevin Blackwell, clad in a smart navy suit and sipping from a Sky Sports mug, gave a polite nod. "Thanks for having me, Gary."