- Insist Elland Road behaviour ‘completely unacceptable’
- Rashford, Garnacho gift United 2 – 0 victory
On a day that old adversaries, Leeds United and Manchester United rekindled their Premier League rivalry, both sets of supporters taunted one another in what has been condemned the “completely unacceptable” chants.
In the encounter that took place at Elland Road on Sunday, the Red Devils emerged 2-0 winners, courtesy of late goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
A contest that is always full of passion spilled over at times on and off the pitch, with fans of both teams exchanging taunts on the terraces relating to “historic tragedies” involving them.
Chants relating to tragedies in Munich and Istanbul could be heard in the stands, with both clubs eager to eradicate such behaviour from their respective fan bases.
A joint statement issued by both Clubs and posted on the Whites’ official website reads: “Both clubs strongly condemn chanting from both sets of fans regarding historic tragedies at today’s game.
“Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and we will continue to work together with our respective fan groups and the Premier League, and other authorities on eradicating it from football.”
Victory for United in West Yorkshire has cemented their standing inside the Premier League’s top four, while Leeds continue to sit just one place and a solitary point above the relegation zone.
The arch-rivals will not meet each other again in the 2022-23 campaign, having played twice in the space five days, and as things are panning out, it yet to be determined whether both sides will still be in the same division next season.
Meanwhile, on the pitch, Leeds will rue their missed chances before Rashford sparks United’s victory by rising highest to meet Luke Shaw’s cross and score their first goal at Elland Road.
At the end of an afternoon in which the hosts fought hard and, deceptively, gone toe to toe with their guests for long periods, they ultimately ran out of physical and mental energy, allowing the two late goals to secure an ultimately comfortable win for the Old Trafford Landlords.
With the win,Erik Ten Hag’s Champions League-chasing team now sit five points clear of fourth-placed Newcastle and seven ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, while Leeds are in deep relegation battle to survive a drop.
