When the fixture list came out, thinking this could be the day that Manchester United potentially seal a Premier League title, would not have been too crazy, a little optimistic, yes, but far from crazy. But then, to think that this would be the day that Leicester City might clinch the coveted crown would have made you the person that people take a few steps back from.
However, that craziness, that ridiculous cannot-still-believe-it craziness could turn out to be a reality if Leicester City pick up all three points against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Seven points is the current lead between Leicester and the only team that can catch them – Tottenham.
Get the highlights of the Manchester United vs Leicester City match HERE
However, no matter what Spurs do in their Monday night match against Chelsea, if Leicester beat Manchester United on Sunday, the Premier League will have its latest and most fairytaleish champion.
"I understand the people want to continue to dream and enjoy but I am a pragmatic man and we need three points more," Leicester City's beloved manager Claudio Ranieri was quoted as saying by the club's official website. "We want to do this.
"We are fighting to try to make this dream a reality, but not yet. I can understand all the happiness around the city – that is great – but that is the fans and we have to work. The players were very concentrated in training and must continue in this way.
"The story of football is fantastic but you have to be focused on the match, not on other things. It is a good opportunity and for this reason we want to be focused. I know you want me to talk about the title but be calm and wait."
Leicester City were calmness personified in their last Premier League game, when Riyad Mahrez and Leonardo Ulloa came to the fore to give the would-be champions a comfortable victory over Swansea. After Tottenham tripped up last Monday, against West Brom, an opportunity to create history opened up for everybody's second favourite team.
The Manchester United match, however, will be far from easy, considering Louis Van Gaal's men are battling for a place in the top four. With Arsenal winning on Saturday, the pressure has been cranked up on Manchester United, and all they can afford is three points, or their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season will receive a major dent, if not a decisive one.
Spoiling the Leicester party, for at least one more week, will be another motivating factor. After all, no fan wants to see another team, no matter which team, win a title on their home turf.
"I think we have to beat Leicester because we are still in the race for the (top four) positions, so we have to beat them," Van Gaal was quoted by Manchester United's official website. "We cannot allow that they are the champions this weekend at Old Trafford. I think they shall be the champion a week later, so we don't spoil the party, just postpone it a little bit.
"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 champion."
Team news: Manchester United: Van Gaal has a relatively clean bill of health to deal with, considering only Bastian Schweinsteiger and Luke Shaw, who is close to a first team return, ruled out of this match against the Foxes.
Leicester City: Ranieri will hope the likes of Ulloa steps up again, with Jamie Vardy serving the final game of his two-match suspension.
Expected lineups: Manchester United: David De Gea; Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo; Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick; Jesse Lingard, Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial; Marcus Rashford.
Leicester City: Kasper Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Mahrez, Drinkwater, Kante, Schlupp; Ulloa, Okazaki.
Where to Watch Live
Manchester United vs Leicester City is scheduled for a 2.05 p.m. BST (6.35 p.m. IST, 9.05 a.m. ET) start. Below are the wide range of live streaming and TV options.
India: TV: Star Sports 1 and Star Sports HD1. Live Streaming: Hotstar and Starsports.com.
UK: Sky Sports 1. Live Streaming: Watch Sky Sports and Sky Go.
USA: TV: NBCSN. Live Streaming: NBC Sports Live Extra.
Australia: TV: Fox Sports 4. Live Streaming: Fox Sports On Demand and Foxtel Play.
Canada: TV: TSN 2 and RDS 2. Live Streaming: TSN TV.
Singapore: TV: 102 mio.
Thailand: TV: CTH.
Middle East and North Africa: TV: Bein Sports Arabia. Live Streaming: Bein Sports Connect.
