Matching Leeds United physically will be paramount to any success Manchester United hope to take from a season opener they expect to play on the counter.
Despite being the home side and in front of a full house at Old Trafford for the first time since March 2020, striker Anthony Martial envisages the Whites having more of the ball.
The France international played all 90 minutes of the last time the Whites visited Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, but failed to get on the scoresheet in a 6-2 win.
Leeds would keep the Red Devils out entirely in the reverse game at Elland Road, playing out a 0-0 draw in West Yorkshire.
Martial knows full well what kind of reputation Marcelo Bielsa’s outfit crafted for themselves in 2020/21.
Saturday’s hosts will have no chance of prevailing unless they can match their visitors for running.
"It is going to be a big game, as we are all aware of the intense rivalry between these two great clubs," he told his club’s official website.
"And it is up to us to make a good start to the season and to do so by winning this first match.
“We know them as a team who never stop running, and who usually tend to man-mark one-on-one.
“It will be down to us to match them physically and get close, and to find the space to be able to hit them with our counter-attacks."
It would be a major sign of respect for the division’s runners-up to accept Leeds taking more of the possession at Old Trafford, deciding instead to wait for countering opportunities.
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