Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has insisted that his team must not allow Leicester to claim the Premier League title at Old Trafford this weekend, not least because it would be a huge setback in the pursuit of a top four finish.
The Foxes can mathematically seal the most unlikely of titles with a win on Sunday, but van Gaal is hoping that United can “postpone” the celebrations.
“I think we have to beat Leicester because we are still in the race for the [top four] positions,” the Dutchman commented at his weekly press conference (via ManUtd.com).
“We cannot allow them to be the champions this weekend at Old Trafford. I think they shall be the champions a week later. So we won’t spoil the party, just postpone it a little bit.”
Referring to his own previous prediction that Leicester really could go all the way, van Gaal added, “For me it is not a surprise – I have said that many, many times. I believe in team building and the manager has done that with this team.
“They had the circumstances to play always with the same team as they did not play so many matches as the other teams in the league, so it is always possible. It is good for the Premier League and the sport of football that not always the same teams are the champions.”
United remain in fifth place, five points behind Manchester City and Arsenal with a game in hand on their immediate rivals.
“We have to close the gap so the pressure is on us still. We have to win every game that we have to play. City still have to play against Arsenal, though, so one of those shall lose points,” van Gaal said.
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