Seven points clear of second-place Tottenham Hotspur, 5,000-1 outsiders Leicester will be crowned champions on Sunday if they win at Manchester United, who are fifth in the table despite a heavy pre-season outlay.
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Claudio Ranieri’s side face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon knowing victory over Louis van Gaal’s men would seal the title.
“We won’t spoil their party, just postpone it a little”.
Van Gaal said: “I was the first that said that they could be the champions”.
“When you see the circumstances – I have already said this many times so I don’t have to repeat myself every time – but we are in more or less the same position but last season when we didn’t play as many matches. I believe in team building and the manager has done that with this team”.
Van Gaal needs his team to win all of their remaining league matches as he is fighting to maintain his job for next season.
The Spanish keeper have won the Europa League with Atletico Madrid; the Super Cup and the Premier League title with United in 2013 – Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia have also won it – but Van Gaal stood by his claim.
The trophy would Leicester’s first EPL win in their history, and would complete a fairy tale campaign that has seen Claudio Ranieri’s minnows stun everyone in world football with their unexpected success.
“The players we are now playing are not used to being champions”, he said, despite the fact that most of United’s senior squad have won a league title either in England or their home countries.
It’s a lose-lose or win-win situation for Red Devils supporters, whichever way you look at it. Could the impossible dream finally become a reality for Leicester? It is always a happy ending. I know them well, and they have less character than this team have. Other people can enjoy it but I am very concentrated. I can understand all the happiness around the city, but we have to work.
Juan Mata admits this season has been a frustrating one for Manchester United – but he is hopeful a late surge can see them finish on a high.
He said both Luke Shaw and Bastian Schweinsteiger were making positive progress in their recoveries.
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It’s fair to say that we’re very strong on our counter attack.
