Match preview
Claudio Ranieri is looking forward to a "great challenge" for his Leicester City team when Manchester United visits this weekend.
Premier League leader Leicester City welcomes second-placed Manchester United to the King Power Stadium on Saturday and Claudio Ranieri is intrigued to see how his players cope in the spotlight.
Star striker Jamie Vardy is hoping to break Ruud van Nistelrooy's goal scoring record by netting for an 11th consecutive Premier League game when he faces the Dutchman's former side.
Vardy's performances have gone a long way to securing a dream start to 2015-16 for the preseason relegation candidate, with 28 points and the same number of goals scored from the team's opening 13 games.
Leicester boss Ranieri is still insisting the initial target is to reach 40 points and secure safety but feels his players deserve their current position at the top of the pile and looks forward to seeing how they cope with the test of facing United, who they beat 5-3 in the corresponding fixture last year.
"I am very curious about how we respond to these big matches," he said. "We know that sooner or later we will lose but we just want to show our great character. The spirit of our group is so strong. Saturday is a great challenge for us to improve. We have had good matches but we also have weaknesses and we have to cover them. We are top of the table and in this moment I think we deserve it, but this is another match to understand where we can improve.
"I think we are building a very big construction. I believe in the next year Leicester will grow. We are very happy. Some people say Leicester can remain at the top, others say it is just a moment. I am glad for the fans but we are just focused. It is an open season but our goal is 40 points."
United dramatically won 2-1 against Watford last time out in the league, but was held to a disappointing 0-0 home draw by PSV in the Champions League on Wednesday to leave its qualification hopes hanging in the balance.
Ashley Young is eager to rebound from that setback with a victory against the table-topper, which would see his side end the weekend in first place.
"Leicester are the leaders, so this is a top-of-the-table clash," he told MUTV. "We will be looking to keep up the good form we have shown in the league over the last few weeks, and hopefully get the three points. There is a lot of disappointment around the place, we have just got to pick ourselves up now and go again at the weekend.
"With the chances we created against PSV, we felt we should have won the game."
Matty James (knee) is Leicester's only injury concern. United is without long-term absentees Luke Shaw (leg) and Antonio Valencia (foot), while it will check on the progress of Michael Carrick (foot), Ander Herrera (hamstring), Phil Jones (ankle) and James Wilson (knee) ahead of the game.
Claudio Ranieri is looking forward to a "great challenge" for his Leicester City team when Manchester United visits this weekend.
Premier League leader Leicester City welcomes second-placed Manchester United to the King Power Stadium on Saturday and Claudio Ranieri is intrigued to see how his players cope in the spotlight.
Star striker Jamie Vardy is hoping to break Ruud van Nistelrooy's goal scoring record by netting for an 11th consecutive Premier League game when he faces the Dutchman's former side.
Vardy's performances have gone a long way to securing a dream start to 2015-16 for the preseason relegation candidate, with 28 points and the same number of goals scored from the team's opening 13 games.
Leicester boss Ranieri is still insisting the initial target is to reach 40 points and secure safety but feels his players deserve their current position at the top of the pile and looks forward to seeing how they cope with the test of facing United, who they beat 5-3 in the corresponding fixture last year.
"I am very curious about how we respond to these big matches," he said. "We know that sooner or later we will lose but we just want to show our great character. The spirit of our group is so strong. Saturday is a great challenge for us to improve. We have had good matches but we also have weaknesses and we have to cover them. We are top of the table and in this moment I think we deserve it, but this is another match to understand where we can improve.
"I think we are building a very big construction. I believe in the next year Leicester will grow. We are very happy. Some people say Leicester can remain at the top, others say it is just a moment. I am glad for the fans but we are just focused. It is an open season but our goal is 40 points."
United dramatically won 2-1 against Watford last time out in the league, but was held to a disappointing 0-0 home draw by PSV in the Champions League on Wednesday to leave its qualification hopes hanging in the balance.
Ashley Young is eager to rebound from that setback with a victory against the table-topper, which would see his side end the weekend in first place.
"Leicester are the leaders, so this is a top-of-the-table clash," he told MUTV. "We will be looking to keep up the good form we have shown in the league over the last few weeks, and hopefully get the three points. There is a lot of disappointment around the place, we have just got to pick ourselves up now and go again at the weekend.
"With the chances we created against PSV, we felt we should have won the game."
Matty James (knee) is Leicester's only injury concern. United is without long-term absentees Luke Shaw (leg) and Antonio Valencia (foot), while it will check on the progress of Michael Carrick (foot), Ander Herrera (hamstring), Phil Jones (ankle) and James Wilson (knee) ahead of the game.
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