Louis van Gaal backs Manchester United to stop Leicester’s Jamie Vardy

Manchester United will only be their third “top” opposition, with Leicester previously losing to Arsenal FC and fighting back to earn a draw against Tottenham Hotspur – both of those games played within the familiar confines of the King Power Stadium. “What they’re doing is very good; to be top at the end of November and start of December, it’s very good for their club but now they have a hard period”.

“He was last season a very nasty player for us”, Van Gaal said.

“He scored, won a penalty, and now he is scoring 10 games in a row, then you are a great player”. I only know Dennis Bergkamp, as a player with me, who did the same with Ajax. “We’ll do our best to expose them and make sure Vardy doesn’t get the record”.

A couple of those wins were impressive and there is a chance of a similar performance here, as Leicester’s attacking outlook can leave them exposed at the back.

While Vardy can’t stop scoring, with 13 goals in the league so far this season, United are struggling to find the net.

“It is possible, I think, ” Van Gaal said.

Leicester, who have the league’s deadliest attack (28 goals), have the task of breaking down United, who have the meanest defence (conceding just 9 goals). You can not always be top of the bill.

Paul Scholes has been consistently vocal in his criticism of the way Van Gaal’s team has played.

“I’ve thought for some time that something could be done about it and after several conversations with my agent and my fiancee, Becky, we chose to set up V9 to unearth talent and give those players a shot – hopefully at earning professional contracts but also to learn what it takes to be a professional at the highest level”. ‘But we are not giving much away.

Contrast that with United’s more cautious approach, which has pushed them up to second in the table, just a point behind City.

The shortage of goals came as a surprise when United announced Thursday that youngster James Wilson, one of only three out-and-out strikers in the squad, had joined second-tier club Brighton on loan for the rest of the season.

The dramatic loss has been a pivotal moment in Van Gaal’s tenure however, as since that traumatic day last September United have come a long way defensively and Van Gaal has steadily turned the Red Devils into an extremely organised robust defensive unit.

“United knew what they were getting when they employed Louis van Gaal, so there can be no complaints now”, he added. You always have something you want to be better at, as a team and also as an individual player.

“More and more players are dropping out of the system early”.

“It is a disappointing result overall and leaves us with a tough game in Germany now, but we believe we can go there and win”, the United captain said.

Marcos Rojo will start at left-back although does need to be careful when up against the quick and unpredictable Riyad Mahrez.

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri reckons boss Van Gaal will get it right at Old Trafford and they have already improved under him.

“I’ve watched a few of the games when I can, so it was an easy decision for me really. So as a manager, I am satisfied with him”. I am the manager but I am very curious how we respond in these big matches from now. “It was like that last season and even more so now”. It’s not important how strong the defensive line is.