Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has adressed the links between arch-rivals Manchester United and Tuesday night's League Cup opponents Salford City, reports Lee Sobot of the Yorkshire Evening Post.

But whilst the Argentinian emphasised his awareness of the links, he admitted that he does not think they matter or have any baring on the midweek clash.

"For us this game is interesting," he told his pre-match press conference.

"It doesn't matter if they have connections to Manchester United or not."

Leeds and Manchester United have a long-standing rivalry and with Salford being owned by members of the Red Devils' iconic 'Class of '92' it has added an extra sub-plot to the clash.

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Pre-season saw the two sides rekindle that rivalry in Australia, where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men ran-out 4-0 winners.

Saturday saw the Whites frustratingly held to a draw by Nottingham Forest at Elland Road with many believing that it was a match they should have won.

Pablo Hernandez gave Bielsa's side a second-half lead but a freak goal from Lewis Grabban meant the points were shared with Sabri Lamouchi's Reds.

The verdict

I think Bielsa is absolutely right to downplay the links between the sides.

It is those links that has obviously encouraged Sky to put the match on TV and, if you are more cynical, the draw to occur in the first place, but it is not something to dwell on.

Salford will want to be viewed as a club in their own right too and not just an off-shoot of their rich neighbours, so I am sure it will go down well there.