Leicester City’s surge to within touching distance of the Premier League title is proof that money does not always yield success, according to manager Claudio Ranieri.
Seven points clear of second-place Tottenham Hotspur, 5,000-1 outsiders Leicester will be crowned champions on Sunday if they win at Manchester United, who are fifth in the table despite a heavy pre-season outlay.
United spent £25 million ($36.5 million, 31.9 million euros) on Memphis Depay and an initial £36 million on Anthony Martial, while Leicester’s total spending was less than £30 million.
“Once in the life it can happen,” Ranieri said, in comments published by British newspapers on Saturday. “That is football. Once every 50 years a little team with less money can beat the biggest ones.
“If there are 20 teams who spend millions of pounds at the end of the season, one will win the title and three will go down.
“Now there are very special circumstances. The big teams don’t have the consistency and normal teams have the consistency during the season.
“From August to April and now it’s important to keep the same consistency in May. I’m waiting for next season. United at the top, Chelsea at the top, Liverpool, (Manchester) City and Arsenal, and we are fighting.”
While victory at Old Trafford will give Leicester the title, they will also be crowned champions if Tottenham do not better their result at Chelsea on Monday.
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