Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri wants a ‘movie-style’ ending to the season as the Foxes look to secure the Premier League title at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Victory away to Manchester United would see Leicester, who lead second-placed Tottenham by seven points, crowned champions with two games still to play.
Even if they fail to beat United, the Foxes only need three points from three games to be certain of finishing top.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s history and we know this,” Italian Ranieri said.
“It is important to finish the story like an American movie. Always in the final it is OK, a happy ending.”
Having narrowly escaped relegation last season, Leicester are on the verge of one of the most remarkable and unlikely successes in sporting history.
A team that cost less than £30m to assemble and had odds of 5,000-1 to win the league last August requires just three more points to topple the Premier League’s elite.
“It’s a good opportunity but for this reason we have to be focused. Let me be calm, wait, we have time,” Ranieri added.
“I told them: ‘Everything is in our hands and we must continue.’ Other people can enjoy it but I am very concentrated.”
Meanwhile, United manager Louis van Gaal says his side are planning on “postponing” rather than “spoiling” Leicester’s title celebrations.
“I think we have to beat them because we are still in the race for fourth position,” the Dutchman said.
“We cannot allow that they are the champions this weekend at Old Trafford. I think they shall be the champions a week later. We don’t spoil the party, only postpone it a little bit.”
TEAM NEWS
United could be unchanged from their FA Cup semi-final win for the visit of the Foxes.
Luke Shaw, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Will Keane remain sidelined.
Leicester will be without striker Jamie Vardy, who serves an additional one-match ban for his angry reaction to being sent off against West Ham.
His replacement against Swansea last week, Leonardo Ulloa, will start after overcoming a slight back problem.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
Guy Mowbray: “I bet you’ve heard the same as me this week a few times: ‘I think United will beat Leicester’.
“Yes, they’re being doubted to the end.
“What can (surely?!) no longer be in doubt is that Leicester WILL be Premier League champions, and could emulate Arsenal in 2002 by confirming it at the ground that’s held more title parties than any other.
“It will have to be properly earned at Old Trafford though, with United motivated by their chase for a top-four finish and possibly a US-style ‘not in our house’ approach.
“May Day is symbolically the start of fresh, new beginnings. How very appropriate for what Leicester have given to football this season.
“‘St. Claudio’s Day’ anyone?”
Twitter: @Guymowbray
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
This is not a must-win game for Leicester but it is for Manchester United, who need a victory to stay in touch with the top four.
I think it will be a draw, which would be a decent result for Leicester, although it would prolong the title race to Monday night when Tottenham play Chelsea.
Prediction: 1-1
Lawro’s full predictions v comedian Nathan Caton
- Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round’s Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Three of Leicester City’s six victories away to Manchester United came before the Second World War. Their most recent triumph was in January 1998 when Tony Cottee scored the game’s only goal.
- United have won the last six league and cup meetings at Old Trafford, conceding just once.
Manchester United
- United have won six successive league matches at Old Trafford, keeping clean sheets in five of them.
- Their record of 11 home wins this season is bettered only by Manchester City (12), who have played a game more.
- Louis van Gaal’s side have only conceded seven goals in 17 home matches in the Premier League.
- The Red Devils are still five points shy of their lowest final tally in a Premier League campaign: 64, in 2013-14.
- Wayne Rooney has scored 99 Premier League goals at Old Trafford. He is yet to score against Leicester in the competition since joining Manchester United.
Leicester City
- Leicester are unbeaten in nine Premier League matches, winning seven of them.
- Their tally of 22 league wins this season is a top-flight club record, and as many as they managed in their previous three Premier League campaigns combined.
- They have the best away record in the division, amassing 11 wins and 37 points from their 17 fixtures.
- Claudio Ranieri’s side have kept 12 clean sheets in 17 league matches since Boxing Day, including six of the last seven games.
- The Foxes were relegated three times in their nine previous seasons in the Premier League, and never finished higher than eighth.
- Leicester are guaranteed to at least equal their highest-ever finish in the top division. They were runners-up in 1929, missing out on the title by a point.
- Ranieri has won two of his nine Premier League matches as a manager against Manchester United (W2, D5, L2). Both victories were as Chelsea manager.
| SAM’s verdict | |
|---|---|
| Most probable score: 1-1 | Probability of draw: 30% |
| Probability of home win: 34% | Probability of away win: 35% |
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by Professor Ian McHale at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football matches.
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Leicester aim to secure league title
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