Louis van Gaal: ‘Leicester City can win Premier League title’

Vardy equalled Ruud van Nistlerooy’s 10-game scoring run against Newcastle but Van Gaal was aware of his ability more than a year ago when Leicester beat United 5-3.

Winger Ashley Young, who injected pace and vision into the United side when he came off the bench, hopes the team will bounce back with a victory against Leicester that would put the Red Devils top of the table.

“It’s dependable not always on the quality and shape of the player at the moment, but also the game-plan, and we have to decide that every week”.

The 16-19 spread on the minute of the last Vardy goal may interest some punters, especially when you consider that 10 of Leicester’s last 11 league goals have come after the break. This is not the way they’re set out to play and I don’t know if it is going to change. “It’s not so easy to do that”.

“It [Leicester winning the Premier League] is possible, I think”, van Gaal was quoted saying in BBC.

Not a ringing endorsement – but there’s a chance!

Ex-United captain Roy Keane tore into Rooney after the 0-0 midweek draw with PSV Eindhoven, claiming the striker “doesn’t look in great shape”.

“United knew what they were getting when they employed Louis van Gaal, so there can be no complaints now”, Ferdinand said.

The 13 top-flight matches involving the Foxes this season have seen 48 goals scored which is more than any other side in the league and Leicester are the only side to find the back of the net in all 13 of their league encounters this season.

Rebuffing any questions about his interest in signing Vardy, Van Gaal explained his thinking behind loaning James Wilson to Brighton for the rest of the season.

The Dutchman has been criticised week in week out for his tiresome footballing style and has been booed by the Old Trafford faithful as well.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has joined van Gaal in considering Leicester as genuine Premier League title contenders. Covers Expert Soccer Authority breaks down the biggest matches in the Premier League this weekend. “I have seen him because he was also in the national team, but then he was more injured at that time”.

When asked whether he was anxious about criticism from supporters, Van Gaal said: “Of course, because the fans have to be happy, you are playing for the fans so you can not deny that”.

“He is a player who is hard to defend”.

United’s last-gasp 2-1 win at Watford last weekend gives them the chance to go top with a win at Leicester, but Neville believes a hard-fought draw will instead be the outcome.

In short, City will face a side that will now everything about them and how best to stop them.