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Leicester face day of destiny at Old Trafford

Claudio Ranieri is on the verge of leading Leicester City to their first ever league title
Claudio Ranieri is on the verge of leading Leicester City to their first ever league title

The champagne is at the ready, the Premier League trophy in place but what used to be a routine occurrence at Old Trafford will have a surreal twist today if Leicester City beat Manchester United (kick-off 2.05pm) there to clinch the title.
              
Leicester's cast-iron nerve has held firm when many expected them to fade and three points at the home of the club that used to perennially rule the roost will ensure their metamorphosis from relegation candidates to English champions is complete.
              
"Once in a life it can happen," Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri said on Friday as he contemplated the prospect of Leicester winning their first top-flight title. "That is football. Once every 50 years a little team with less money can beat the biggest."
              
Only Tottenham Hotspur can catch Leicester, but they will be knocked out of the equation if 20-times champions United succumb to Ranieri's relentless side today.
              
A Leicester draw would leave them eight points ahead of Tottenham who would then need to beat Chelsea away on Monday to take the title race to the penultimate weekend.
              
Should Leicester, who will be without suspended top scorer Jamie Vardy, lose then Tottenham would stay alive with even a draw at Stamford Bridge.

Leicester midfielder Jeff Schlupp admits United shaped him as his side hope to finish the job in Manchester.

Schlupp was on trial at Old Trafford during 2012-13, Alex Ferguson's final season, before he returned to Leicester and broke into the team.

United have won 13 Premier League titles but the Foxes are 90 minutes away from upsetting the establishment and Schlupp feels he owes the Red Devils for helping him achieve his dream.

He said: "To me, it was an opportunity, I went there, saw how it worked and came back here a better player. I did meet Sir Alex a couple of times actually. He was really nice to me and just told me, obviously, I'm here because I'm a good player, just to enjoy it and then who knows what will happen.

"I don't think I could ever turn down a move to Manchester United but I didn't get the opportunity at the time. However, it has moulded me into the player I am. Leicester City is my club, has always been my club and I'm grateful to be here.

"It is a dream to win it there and get the trophy at home. But we have to take each game as it comes. Of course, we will try and do it.

"I was talking to some friends during the Tottenham-West Brom game and I was thinking we are literally one win away from a dream since I was young.

"It is surreal at times but as professional footballers, we are here to win things and we have a good opportunity now.

"Since I've been here we've had the same laundry woman as when I was 12. Same kitman, chefs and it's great to see that we've all gone through the transition stage together as a club. They've been loyal to the staff and we've all gone through this journey together."

Boss Claudio Ranieri, who has never won a top-flight title, replaced Nigel Pearson last summer and was favourite to be the first manager sacked this season but has lost just three league games.

Wideman Schlupp revealed the squad had no idea who their new boss would be while they were pre-season training in Austria and admitted to being star struck when Ranieri first met them.

The 23-year-old said: "He was always a big name, even growing up in Germany, I knew who Claudio Ranieri was and I knew he'd managed big clubs. His CV speaks for itself really, he's managed top clubs and he's a top manager.

"When he walked into the room, in Austria, we didn't know ourselves actually (who it was going to be).We were all gathered and then he walked through.

"It was 'yeah wow it's Ranieri'. He's a big name and it was just excitement I think. He's proved himself."

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