Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has claimed that Leicester City finds it easier to sign players than Manchester United. The Dutchman said the fact that selling clubs always sell players for a premium to Manchester United means it will always be easier for clubs such as Leicester to sign players on the cheap.
Speaking ahead of Manchester United’s clash with Leicester at Old Trafford on Sunday, Van Gaal said selling clubs always expect Manchester United to pay more for a player than clubs of a smaller stature.
The Dutchman referenced his prior success at winning the Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar in 2009, claiming it was easier to sign quality players with a smaller team than it was at United, where he has spent nearly £250 million in 18 months.
“As a club of AZ or a smaller club like Leicester, it is easier to buy players. It’s not so easy to buy players for a club like Manchester United,” Van Gaal told reporters.
“You have to pay much more, you have to pay also the agents, and then you have the player himself. Also, the pressure of the transfer of players is less big, and also for the players who have to perform it’s less, so it’s a big difference.”
Despite claiming it was easier for Leicester to sign players, the Manchester United boss did not play down the feats of Leicester, who he praised before tipping them to win the Premier League.
“It’s also a fantastic performance of Leicester City, and at that time AZ, to beat the top clubs,” he said.
“The performance of Ranieri and his players is fantastic because they are not used to winning every game and they have to win every game, and they have done it.
“I believe that they shall be champions at the end.”
If Leicester were to defeat Manchester United at Old Trafford this Sunday, they will be crowned champions with two games to go. Three draws in their last three games would also suffice while a loss would even do if Chelsea were to beat Tottenham the following day.
However, Van Gaal said Manchester United will not lie down for Leicester City as his club looks to take away three points in the slim hope of making the top four.
“We are still in the first five, last year we were in the first four, so the difference in points [to Leicester] is not bigger than with Chelsea I believe,” he said.
“The question for us is to qualify [for the Champions League]. Fourth position is okay, third position then we have reached our aim. But we have of course a final to play in the FA Cup, so we have pluses.
“I don’t think you can say that we haven’t played at a certain level, we have played at a certain level and we played fantastic matches, but we have also played lousy matches. I think every club has played lousy matches, also Leicester City, but they have won their lousy matches.”
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