Louis van Gaal not anxious

“Van Gaal has been hearing this message for quite a while now”, said Meulensteen, who worked under Ferguson.

Van Gaal knows how hard it is to maintain such a prolific scoring run. A large number of fans at Old Trafford, as well as former United stars Paul Scholes and Roy Keane, not for the first time this season, expressed their displeasure at what they had witnessed, particularly a lack of attacking inspiration.

United have already achieved eight shut-outs in the league and it is clear that Vardy faces a stiff examination of his credentials if he wants to grab a history-making goal.

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

Having said that, Van Gaal also believes his defence is well equipped to nullify the threat of the England striker.

“Vardy scored, won a penalty, and now he is scoring ten games in a row”. They knew they were getting a manager who played a precise, possession-based game. It’s not so easy to do that.

Louis van Gaal: “I don’t think anybody has expected that [they’d be top at this stage], even Leicester themselves”.

Here’s a look at Manchester United’s top young forwards – those 22 years old and under, including first-teamers as well as those climbing through the youth system – including a break down of each striker’s skill set, development areas and outlook.

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.

Rooney and his fellow United forwards have only nine league goals to their credit and they drew a blank again in midweek with a 0-0 draw against PSV Eindhoven that left them in danger of missing out of the Champions League knockout stages. Otherwise he is out of the team. Van Gaal, though, insists that their record in the Premier League and in Europe shows the team are doing plenty of things right.

Anthony Martial, who impressed so much upon his arrival, has only scored one goal in 14 games for club and country, while his senior strike partner Wayne Rooney seems to be floundering with only two goals all season.

The surprising title clash is likely to be one of the most intriguing match-ups of the season. He plans to hold an annual week-long residential camp where 60 non-league players will receive coaching and guidance on all aspects of the game as well as get the chance to perform in front of leagueclubs. “And we have to decide that every week”.

Pressed further on Herrera and Jones, the boss continued: “I cannot say that also because these kind of injuries you cannot predict. I don’t think it is weeks, but I think within two weeks one of the two can come back”.

“Yes, of course”, Van Gaal said.