Leeds United star excited for clash with 'best team in the world' Manchester City

The German international defender, who is working his way back to full fitness after knee surgery, says a trip to Manchester City is one to get excited about.

Pep Guardiola's men are on an incredible run, winning 27 of their last 28 outings and losing only twice since their 1-1 draw at Elland Road with the Whites.

City were involved in a midweek Champions League battle with Borussia Dortmund and will be again next week, but even if Guardiola rests a number of his regulars there is an array of talent throughout the ranks for him to choose from.

And as Marcelo Bielsa stated in his pre-game press conference, to be a star at a club like Manchester City you have to be able to produce good performances every few days.

Coming up against elite players well capable of that kind of consistency - the likes of whom Koch hopes to encounter at this summer's European Championships - players like Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Ruben Dias and Benjamin Mendy, is something Koch considers enjoyable.

"At the moment they're the best team in the world," he said.

"They're doing well. I love to play against the big teams and the best players, I'm looking forward to the game."

Koch may find himself among Marcelo Bielsa's replacements again at lunchtime tomorrow, having made just two substitute appearances in the very last minutes of Leeds' games against Fulham and Sheffield United since returning from surgery to feature for the 23s in March, but whoever finds themselves on the Etihad pitch will need to bring the best version of themselves, he says.

"Playing against the best team in the world you have to bring a top performance on the pitch," he told the YEP.

"But I think our squad showed in the first game against Manchester City that we're ready for big teams."