Farke ruthlessly ended his old club’s play-off hopes and completed a league double last season. Thorup knows the scale of his predecessor’s achievements in Norfolk, but insists his Canaries will be up for the challenge on Tuesday.
“I can feel he is a figure where a lot still talk about him, and what he did here,” he said. “To win two championships and to be promoted to the Premier League, and also with a way and a style that was entertaining and the fans appreciated that.
“I can definitely feel that. I hope they will appreciate that and show him great respect but hopefully we can give them a tough fight. We are in a place where it is realistic to go into this game and expect we can put in a strong performance.
“Obviously, I don’t know him, so I’ve never played against him. I haven’t really crossed paths. He’s a great coach, and what he did here was fantastic. I appreciate that he’ll get the respect that he deserves, and I think, and I hope people can show him that respect. I will make sure that we don’t respect his team that much when the game starts. That’s my job.”
Thorup is playing down any extra motivation for those in the home ranks who were humbled in a painful play-off semi-final, second leg embarrassment at Elland Road in May.
“The most important thing for us is we are front-footed, proactive and take risks,” he said. “You can win or lose but if you sit in the dressing room afterwards you have to be able to look people in the eye and feel, ‘Did we actually go for it?’ That is what I will tell the players. Don’t change anything.
“It is not more than three points. Three against Leeds and three at Derby count the same. But sometimes we can all see who will be up there at the end.
“It is fair to say Leeds will be, so we can definitely get some answers where we are, and how we can compete against one of the best teams in the league.
“What I feel and sense is the guys just want to play in front of a home crowd and show them we are strong as well. With that support we can do great things.”
