⚪🔴 “One Year On: From Oslo to Stockholm” – How Far Leeds United Have Come Since Their Last Clash with Manchester United
As Leeds United prepare to take on their fierce rivals Manchester United this Saturday in Stockholm, there’s more on the line than just pre-season fitness. For a club defined by resilience, pride, and history, the opportunity to test themselves against their most storied rivals marks another important step in the journey back to where they belong.
A year ago, Leeds were a team in turmoil. Relegated from the Premier League, uncertain in identity, and beginning the long road to redemption. That road started, symbolically, with a friendly match against Manchester United in Oslo — a fixture that many dismissed at the time as routine, but one that quietly hinted at the sweeping changes to come.
Fast forward to July 2025, and Leeds United are no longer licking their wounds. They’re back in the big time. Their manager, Daniel Farke, has rekindled belief in a fractured squad. Their fans are dreaming again. And on Saturday, they face Manchester United not as a Championship side, but as Premier League equals — perhaps even, given the circumstances, with the upper hand.
Before kick-off in Sweden, let’s rewind. Because to understand the significance of this rivalry’s next chapter, we must remember where it last left off.
🗓️ July 12, 2023 – Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo
The Pre-Season That Felt Like a Funeral March
On paper, Leeds United versus Manchester United in Norway was a pre-season exhibition. But for Leeds fans, it was anything but routine.
It came just weeks after relegation. The Marcelo Bielsa era was over. The club had gambled on survival with a revolving door of managers — Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia, Sam Allardyce — and lost. The boardroom was in flux, with the 49ers Enterprises poised to take full control. Daniel Farke had just been appointed, and the job ahead looked mammoth.
Facing a confident Erik ten Hag side that had finished third in the Premier League, Leeds were expected to struggle. And while the scoreline — a 2-0 defeat — wasn’t disastrous, the gap in sharpness, squad quality, and stability was plain to see.
But it was also a crucial benchmark for Farke. A chance to evaluate. A chance to rebuild. And, as history now shows, a moment where the seeds of renewal were first planted.
🧤 First-Half XI: A Snapshot of a Team in Transition
Let’s revisit the first half lineup Farke deployed in Oslo. It now reads like a roll call of short-lived experiments, fading hopes, and unfulfilled potential.
🧱 Goalkeeper – Kristoffer Klaesson
Once tipped as a successor to Illan Meslier, the Norwegian stopper started the game as something of a hometown nod. Klaesson had pedigree in Norway with Vålerenga and joined Leeds in 2021 with an eye on the future.
But he never quite convinced. By the end of the 2023/24 season, he had moved on permanently to Poland, with just three senior appearances to his name. His performance in Oslo — steady in the first half — was quickly forgotten once the goals arrived after the break. If anything, fans remember his eccentric haircut more than his keeping.
🛡️ Defence – Cody Drameh, Jeremiah Mullen, Liam Cooper, Leo Hjelde
This back four represented both experience and experimentation.
Liam Cooper, club captain, wore the armband with pride. He led the team that day and continued to be a presence throughout the Championship season. But the writing was on the wall: age, injuries, and the emergence of younger defenders meant the 2023/24 campaign was likely his last as a regular starter.
Jeremiah Mullen, an academy product, had his moment in Oslo but couldn’t break through consistently. He now plays for Dunfermline Athletic in Scotland.
Cody Drameh, a player of real promise, had just returned from a loan at Luton Town. Many hoped he’d establish himself. Instead, more loans followed — including at Hull City — and questions persist about whether he’ll ever become a permanent fixture at Elland Road.
Leo Hjelde, at left-back, is another case of early potential not fully realized. He joined Sunderland and may yet cross paths with Leeds again following their promotion.
⚙️ Midfield – Jamie Shackleton, Darko Gyabi
A midfield duo with contrasting stories:
Jamie Shackleton, once touted as Leeds’ midfield engine of the future, found himself on the fringes. Injuries, inconsistency, and managerial changes all played a part. By 2024, he had moved to Sheffield United in search of regular minutes, but struggled to make a lasting impact.
Darko Gyabi, signed from Manchester City in a deal linked with Kalvin Phillips’ departure, remains a curious case. Talented, composed on the ball, but lacking opportunities. Farke gave him limited chances, and now, a sale looks likely — though Michael Skubala’s belief in him suggests the club may yet regret letting him go.
⚡ Wingers – Ian Poveda, Luis Sinisterra
On the wings, two enigmatic talents:
Luis Sinisterra, blessed with flair and attacking prowess, was expected to be a marquee name. But injuries stifled his rhythm. After a loan to Bournemouth, he made the move permanent. There, he’s finally finding consistency, but fans are left wondering what might have been.
Ian Poveda is perhaps one of the most frustrating stories. Once tipped to be a breakout star, his career has been riddled with setbacks. A brief stint at Sunderland followed his release, but his time at Leeds — full of potential yet marred by injuries and inconsistency — ultimately fizzled out.
🎯 Forwards – Sam Greenwood, Georginio Rutter
Sam Greenwood, a forward with technical finesse and a killer set-piece, was loaned to Middlesbrough for the 2023/24 campaign. He did well, but with Leeds now strengthening up front, Greenwood too looks set to be sold.
Georginio Rutter, meanwhile, is the redemption story. Maligned early in his Leeds career for his hefty price tag and minimal output, he exploded in the Championship — dazzling defenders with his creativity and chalking up 23 goal contributions. Though he didn’t score in Oslo, that friendly was the first spark of a fire that would burn brightly all season.
🔄 Second-Half XI: The Foundations of Today’s Squad
Farke rang the changes at half-time, fielding an entirely new XI. Five players from that group are still key figures at the club today.
Second-half team:
Dani van den Heuvel, Luke Ayling, Pascal Struijk, Kris Moore, Cody Drameh;
Dan James, Lewis Bate, Archie Gray, Joe Gelhardt;
Mateo Joseph, Patrick Bamford
Key highlights:
Archie Gray was only 17 at the time. Since then, he’s become the crown jewel of the Leeds academy — now a regular starter and subject of major transfer interest from top European clubs. He represents the future of English football.
Pascal Struijk overcame injuries to become a central figure in Farke’s back line. His leadership and defensive intelligence are now vital.
Mateo Joseph and Joe Gelhardt continue to compete for attacking roles, while Patrick Bamford, despite age and injury concerns, remains a veteran influence.
🏟️ From Oslo to Stockholm – A Year That Changed Everything
This Saturday, Leeds and Manchester United will meet again — this time at the Strawberry Arena in Sweden. But unlike last year, Leeds arrive with renewed confidence, a stable project under Daniel Farke, and a burning desire to finally claim a win over their rivals.
It’s been 15 years since Leeds last beat Manchester United in any competition. The hunger, the frustration, the near-misses — all of it fuels the fire heading into this weekend.
Off the pitch, controversy adds more spice. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s decision to end United’s pre-season tradition of giving commemorative gifts to opponents has rubbed many the wrong way — with Leeds becoming the first victims of the snub. Leeds fans, already no strangers to disrespect from their Lancashire rivals, won’t forget it.
But on the pitch, it’s not about revenge. It’s about evolution.
💬 Final Word: The Oslo Game That Sparked a Rebuild
The 2-0 loss in Oslo might have felt routine at the time. But with hindsight, it was far more significant. That game marked the beginning of a new era — a painful but necessary assessment of who could carry Leeds forward and who couldn’t.
Now, one year later, Leeds United are transformed. Not yet perfect. Not yet the finished article. But no longer drifting.
And on Saturday in Stockholm, they won’t just be playing for pre-season points. They’ll be playing to show just how far they’ve come.