'Feels like home' - Noah Okafor opens up on historic Leeds United moment & Elland Road feeling
The Swiss winger has become part of Leeds United folklore following his Manchester United brace.
Leeds United winger Noah Okafor only started to realise the magnitude of his Old Trafford brace after victory against Manchester United in April.
Okafor made himself a modern day Leeds legend when scoring twice inside 29 minutes during last season’s 2-1 victory across the Pennines. His goals handed the Whites a first league triumph at Old Trafford since 1981, ending a 45-year winless run at the home of their fierce rivals.
The 26-year-old’s name is now regularly heard inside Elland Road and multiple away ends as part of a brilliant chant created in memory of that historic brace. Okafor wasn’t able to recreate those heroics during Sunday’s 1-1 home draw but looks back fondly on his Old Trafford exploits.
Asked if there was a game that stood out apart from his first ever goal and Champions League debut, Okafor told the Official Leeds United podcast: “Two goals at Old Trafford, I would say. This [the size of the rivalry] I knew, but to be fair, I didn't know [how big the goals would be in my career].
“After the game, some people told me that for like 45 years or how long, I think, we didn't win there [in the league]. So after the game, I started to realise, okay, it was everywhere and they started to sing a song and stuff like this. So I said okay.”
There were no such heroics on Sunday as Okafor and his attacking teammates struggled to find their flow. Manchester United’s more defensive approach kept the game from opening up but Leeds showed plenty of grit to fight back from a goal down.
Okafor admits that appreciation for technical skill and hard work in equal measure makes Elland Road a special place that for him, feels like home. And that positive feeling in turn helps him perform to the highest level.
“For me, this is the best atmosphere I've played so far,” he added. “It's crazy. I enjoy playing at home, I feel so nice. This feeling is so nice because the fans, they support you, they're on you. It doesn't matter if you score or have a block or tackle or good action, they're just on you.
“Especially the night games are so special here. I always say this also in interviews, it feels like home here for me. That's why I can play, because I'm a little bit like an emotional player. I have to be comfortable and feel the trust of people to perform.
“When I feel comfortable, when I feel trusted, I can perform and that's the reason I perform. So I'm really happy.”