Sport

Claudio Ranieri wants Leicester to produce a Hollywood ending

A t-shirt celebrating Leicester City as Premier League Champions for sale in JC Sports in Leicester on Friday<br />Picture by PA&nbsp;
A t-shirt celebrating Leicester City as Premier League Champions for sale in JC Sports in Leicester on Friday
Picture by PA 
A t-shirt celebrating Leicester City as Premier League Champions for sale in JC Sports in Leicester on Friday
Picture by PA 

LEICESTER boss Claudio Ranieri admits the Foxes are on the brink of history and urged his players to pen a Hollywood ending.

Ranieri's side will win the Barclays Premier League with victory at Manchester United on Sunday. Leicester are seven points clear of second-placed Tottenham and need three points from their final three games to clinch a first top-flight crown.

The Foxes could lose at Old Trafford and still be crowned champions before next weekend's home game with Everton should Spurs lose at Chelsea on Monday night. And Ranieri, who has never won a top-flight title in his 30-year managerial career, knows they are close to a fairytale finish: "It's unbelievable, it's history and we know this," he said.

"It is important to finish the story like an American movie. Always in the final, it is okay, a happy ending. It's a good opportunity but, for this reason, we have to be focused. Let me be calm, wait, we have time.

"I told them, 'everything is in our hands and we must continue'. If your strength was to concentrate and be solid, we have to continue that. I don't want to say anything more than my philosophy, I want to be focused on the next match. Other people can enjoy it, but I am very concentrated. If we are doing so well so far, why do I have to change?"

United are still chasing a Champions League spot, sitting five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with a game in hand, and Ranieri believes his side must produce their best away display of the campaign if they are to achieve victory.

"United are a very good team and Van Gaal is an experienced manager. It's important for us to make a perfect game. The best performance away of the season," he said.

Jamie Vardy is banned after he received an additional one-match suspension from the English Football Association following his reaction to his red card in the 2-2 draw against West Ham earlier this month.

Midfielder Matty James remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury.