Leicester City can seal the Premier League this afternoon at Old Trafford if they beat Manchester United. So the question is: can the Foxes emulate what Arsenal did in 2002 and take the crown at one of the most dreaded football shrines in English football?
Manager Claudio Ranieri told journalists that that is what he has mandated his boys to do. Saying that “It is important to finish the story like an American movie.”
Yes, it will be one of the most remarkable triumphs in sporting history when Leicester are finally crowned league champions. Bear in mind that the whole team costs less than $39m and when the campaign started in August, they were 5000 – 1 favourites to take the title. The closest the Foxes have come to winning the league was in 1929 when they finished runners-up – losing the league by just one point.
It has been a fairy-tale, roller-coaster performance for a team that escaped relegation last year by whiskers to be now the inevitable champions.
In Leicester’s nine Premiership campaigns, they went down into relegation three times and have never finished higher than eight. But here they are today at Old Trafford with one hand on the trophy.
Manchester Manager, Luis Van Gaal said that he would not want to spoil Leicester victory party but he will certainly postpone their been crowned champions till next week. He said that his side need the three points today in their quest for a champions league slot.
“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.”
Leicester will again play without their goal-getter Jamie Vardy, who is still under match ban. He was sent off for his show of anger at West Ham. But his replacement, who scored a brace against Swansea last weekend, Leonardo Ulloa has over a slight back complain and will step in again for him.
The last time Leicester won at Old Trafford was in 1998 when Tony Cottee scored the only goal of the match.
Kick Off: 15.05 CET
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