Reading goalkeeper Vito Mannone rates playing Leeds United as up there with taking on giants of the game such as Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City.
The Royals are next up against the Whites in a Championship meeting at Elland Road on Saturday and Mannone will be looking to put in a top notch display.
The former Arsenal and Sunderland custodian, who joined Reading from the Black Cats on loan in the summer, has experience of playing against big teams such as Manchester United and Liverpool during his stint in the Premier League.
But the 29-year-old explained that he considers matches against Leeds “big” as well, with the Italian saying that Elland Road will be a big stage for his side to try and turn around their season by bagging the full points.
“It’s a big game but from my experience I loved when the big games were coming”, Mannone was quoted as saying by Reading’s official site.
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“In the past few years, playing against teams like Man City, Man United, Liverpool, I treat Leeds United as another game like that."
The custodian also says the Leeds fans will be "crazy" but believes the prize for his side winning would be more than just three points, with "big confidence" flowing back as a result.
“It’s a big stadium, the fans will be crazy and it’ll be a big game and a big stage for us to step on and try and get the three points.
“If we do that, if we do it there, it will give us big confidence.”
Reading are currently 20th in the Championship with nine points from 10 games, while Leeds occupy fifth spot in the table with 20 points from 11 outings.
