MX23RW : Tuesday, July 28 11:20:20| >> :120:7672:7672:
Jul 26, 2020 at 4pm UK at King Power Stadium
LeicesterLeicester City
0-2
Man UtdManchester United

Evans (68')
Evans (90+4')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Fernandes (71' pen.), Lingard (90+8')
Maguire (9'), Lindelof (63'), Matic (83'), Pogba (90'), Williams (90+2')

Brendan Rodgers: 'Leicester want Champions League, but Man Utd need it'

Brendan Rodgers: 'Leicester want Champions League, but Man Utd need it'
© Reuters
The Foxes boss is putting all the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side ahead of Sunday's showdown.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers believes the pressure is all on Manchester United ahead of their Champions League shoot-out.

The teams face off at the King Power Stadium on Sunday battling for a Champions League spot.

Leicester are fifth, a point behind United in third and fourth placed Chelsea ahead of the final round of games.

Leicester and Manchester are racing for a Champions League spot
Leicester and Manchester are racing for a Champions League spot (Martin Rickett/PA)

Victory would return the club to Europe’s top table after a three-year absence but Rodgers expects United to be the ones in the spotlight.

He said: “I think there is a difference where we want to be in the Champions League. We would love to be able to do that but when you are a club like Manchester United or one of those super clubs, there is a need to be in the Champions League for many reasons.

“That is pretty clear. For us we would want to be in it. We will give everything we can. If we fall short then we have still had a really good season in the first season we have been together.

“When you (United) are at that level of spending and everything else there is a need to be in there and that brings a different level of expectation.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United are under pressure to secure Champions League football
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United are under pressure to secure Champions League football (Martin Rickett/PA)

The Foxes have achieved their pre-season goal of European football having booked a Europa League spot already and Rodgers knows the importance of improving the squad.

He said: “I think whichever competition we are in, we have to improve next year, we have to improve the quality and mentality of the squad, and continue our development.

“There are resources when you get to the Champions League which are far greater but for us it has to be sustainable.

“We would love to be getting an £80 or £90million player but that is not how we work here. The solution for us will be continual development, looking to improve the quality and the possibilities that we have and improving players and that is continual regardless of where we’re at.”

Ben Chilwell will miss the match
Ben Chilwell will miss the match (Michael Regan/NMC Pool/PA)

Rodgers is without James Maddison and Christian Fuchs (both hip) while Ben Chilwell is sidelined with a foot injury.

Jamie Vardy is gunning for the top flight’s golden boot with 23 goals and is two ahead of Southampton’s Danny Ings with Rodgers backing him to shine against United.

“Jamie as been outstanding for me and before that. These are the occasions where he comes to the fore,” he added.

“He is a big-game player and deals with pressure. This is a game right up his street. He has been on fire and I’m sure he’ll want to finish off the season strongly.”

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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLiverpool38323385335299
2Manchester CityMan City382639102356781
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd381812866363066
4Chelsea382061269541566
5Leicester CityLeicester381881267412662
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs3816111161471459
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves381514951401159
8Arsenal381414105648856
9Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd381412123939054
10Burnley38159144350-754
11Southampton38157165160-952
12Everton381310154456-1249
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381111163858-2044
14Crystal Palace381110173150-1943
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38914153954-1541
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham38109194962-1339
17Aston Villa3898214167-2635
RBournemouth3897224065-2534
RWatford38810203664-2834
RNorwich CityNorwich3856272675-4921

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