Pep Guardiola's Marcelo Bielsa admission and Leeds United declaration with Man City Elland Road expectation

Pep Guardiola has served up more Leeds United praise with a Marcelo Bielsa admission and “incredible” Whites declaration as Manchester City head back to Elland Road.

City will take on Daniel Farke’s Whites for the second time this season in Saturday evening’s 5.30pm kick-off at LS11, three months on from United’s 3-2 defeat at the Etihad at the end of November.

City, though, have not played Leeds at Elland Road since the Premier League clash of December 2022 in the season when the Whites lost their Premier League status that had finally been regained under Marcelo Bielsa just two years earlier.

Speaking ahead of Saturday evening’s return to Leeds, Guardiola referenced United’s former Argentine boss, admitting trips to Elland Road had been few and far between after Bielsa had taken the club up as Championship champions in June 2020.

October’s clash the following season was played behind closed doors meaning Guardiola has only had the full Elland Road experience twice in the 4-0 win of April 2022 and 3-1 triumph there nine months later.

Guardiola, though, has already experienced enough to salute a “good vibe” and “incredible” atmosphere at the ground, the City boss fully aware what his men are walking into but ready for the challenge ahead.

Speaking at Friday’s pre-match press conference, Guardiola was asked about what sort of challenge he expected at Elland Road and said: “Elland Road is Elland Road and with Daniel, the last results - going to Stamford Bridge and Villa Park and getting good results.

"They have even the plus now of the home crowd but we are ready to do this challenge again."

“Elland Road is one of them”

Asked if he had a favourite opposition ground, Guardiola said: "In ten years I have been not many times since Marcelo Bielsa promoted them to the Premier League.

"We have been there and we have been to an incredible stadium with a good vibe and we know it well.

"I think there are a lot of Premier League stadiums that are traditional and really good and Elland Road is one of them."

Pushed again if he had a favourite, the City boss reasoned: "Many, I like a lot, I like Fulham, I like Watford for example because it is traditional, the old Goodison Park.

"Being foreign and coming from another country to the traditional stadiums, I like it.

"Of course, the new ones are beautiful."