Five talking points from Leicester City vs Manchester United

Gameweek 14 saw a Leicester City hosting Manchester United at the King Power Stadium to decide who the table toppers are going to be. Both teams went for the three points during those breathless closing exchanges, but neither could do enough and neither deserved to lose. Besides the stalemate that happened, history was made today by both Vardy and Schweinsteiger. One became the first player to score in 11 consecutive games in the Premier League and the other became the first German player to score for Manchester United FC.

1. Jamie Vardy is officially the most lethal of strikers in the Premier League history

Running from inside his own penalty area into United’s penalty area, latching onto a beautiful ball from Christian Fuchs and slotting home past David de Gea, Jamie Vardy is now the only player in Premier League history to have scored in 11 consecutive fixtures. The 28-year old has overtaken Ruud van Nistelrooy in this run who had scored in 10 consecutive games for Manchester United. But the important thing here is that Nistelrooy had done it with a team like Manchester United but Vardy has accomplished even more with a considerably weaker Leicester side. In addition, Nistelrooy’s run was spread over two seasons, while Vardy has accomplished this in the same season. Commendable job by the Englishman which also made Roy Hodgson, who was sitting in the stands watching the game, smile.

2. Bastian Schweinsteiger turning up the heat in the Premier League

Looks like Bastian Schweinsteiger has finally got the hang of Premier League football as his performances in the last 2 fixtures have been flamboyant, if anything. The German master playmaker, even without the pace he once possessed, is able to take on midfield setups purely reliant on pace with ease while attacking with the ball more often and with more intent too. In the last two games, Schweinsteiger’s performances have been more direct and with more intent and that got its reward today in the form of Schweini’s first goal in a United shirt. Although he could have had his first goal in the last game but it was given a Troy Deeney own goal. With an awakened Schweinsteiger, United can maybe hope to find their attacking flair once again.

3. #VanGaalOut a necessity for United’s game to improve

Louis van Gaal and his “philosophy” have taken United from rags to cleaner rags. Football as it once used to be at the Old Trafford is getting forgotten and you could literally see the fans with crossed arms at the mid-week Champions League fixture against PSV trying to figure out what to cheer their players about. Players are stuck in between their natural instinct and strict instructions from the manager which is hampering their game and their football has become haywire. Manchester United should start looking for suitable managerial candidates like Ryan Giggs, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti amongst others.

4. Paddy McNair had a game to remember

A young centre back coming out from the ranks of the club’s Academy, the Northern Irishman along with Chris Smalling had to contain the dangerous Jamie Vardy and although at times the striker slipped their mark, they were successful in shutting him out except for that one counterattack where he scored the goal that made history. With all the makings of a good centre back, Paddy McNair is surely one of United’s assets going into the future.

5. Claudio Ranieri deserves more credit than he is getting at the moment

The coach has been marred of silverware his entire career which makes his CV look bad but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a great coach. Ranieri has been a great coach who unfortunately hasn’t won a domestic title with any club. He was the one who brought Frank Lampard and John Terry into the squad and nurtured them while his time at Chelsea whose success’ credit is given to ‘The Special One’ but what people don’t realize is that all of that was given to him on a silver platter prepared by Ranieri. Stories such as this are there but what’s in the past is in the past. Currently, Ranieri is working with a squad which was bottom of the table this time round last season and is currently on the second spot above elite clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton. Players such as Riyad Mahrez, Marc Albrighton, Shinji Okazaki and most of all Jamie Vardy are being used to their full potential. And all of this put together, we have a side playing better football than most clubs in the Premiership.