Gary Neville on 'huge club' Leeds United and their 'brutal' Manchester United rivalry

Gary Neville says visiting Elland Road with Manchester United was brutal, believing the rivalry between Leeds and the Red Devils had deep hatred.

The Whites are looking to end a 16-year wait for Premier League football this season and sit top of the Championship with nine games remaining.

Football in England is currently enduring a hiatus due to the coronavirus outbreak across the globe, but European governing body UEFA say they are committed to concluding the current campaign.

Leeds have come to blows with the Red Devils just twice in competitive action since the Whites were relegated from the top flight amid financial troubles in 2004.

The club from West Yorkshire claimed a historic 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in the FA Cup a little over 10 years ago while Sir Alex Ferguson saw his side triumph in LS11 a year later in League Cup action.

Neville - who enjoyed a 19-year spell with the Whites' old foe - reflected on a rivalry that had a "real nastiness" to it and admitted he'd love to see Marcelo Bielsa's side back in the Premier League.

"It was brutal when we went to Leeds," Neville told Sky Sports.

"Even more brutal than going to Liverpool. The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United was huge, but the rivalry with Leeds was almost a deep hatred.

"There's a little bit of respect between United and Liverpool but with Leeds there was a real nastiness - like they would come onto the pitch if they could.

"Leeds I always felt was a huge club when we were playing against them. When people ask what is a big club I always think of Leeds United.

"Just the feeling when you go and play football there is incredible. It's different. It's a different place to play football."