Not Red & buried yet
Nothing but the Huth will be enough
MICHAEL DEAN LEICESTER defender Robert Huth is telling it like it is and insists the champions can draw on their previous relegation battle to survive. The Foxes have won just two of their last 14 league games and today host a Manchester United side who are unbeaten in their last 14 top-flight outings. Last season’s shock title winners are yet to win this year or score a Premier League goal in 2017. And boss Claudio Ranieri admits it is possib le he could lose his job this term. Huth, 32 (above) was par t of the squad which pulled off the great escape under Nig el Pearson – winning seven of their final nine games to sta y up – and he believes they must rediscover that focus. The centre-back, who joined Leicester from Stoke two years ago, said: “The majority of the squad were here when we were at the bottom of the league. We know how to deal with disappointment. “When some people might think it’s the worst thing in the world, it’s up to us as professionals to think that we’ve been here before and we know what it takes. “It’s almost like we have to shut out everyone and get on with the job. “The whole team, whoever plays, needs to get together and work a little harder and the ball will drop for us I’m sure. “Week to week, we do the same stuff. It’s not like we change anything to warrant a drop in form or performances. We just need to work harder as a team – that’s what it comes down to.” United manager Jose Mourinho was sacked as Chelsea boss following his last visit to the King Power Stadium – a 2-1 defeat in December 2015 – but Huth believes the Portuguese has helped breath new life into United this season. He said: “Having watched them on TV, they look a good team. They look really solid and not losing in 14 league games is a great achievement. “Not many teams can do that. They have a really good balance of great individual players and Jose Mourinho, as he always does, has got them playing as a team. He’s got them working for each other with class individuals.” JOSE MOURINHO has chucked in the towel in terms of the Premier League title – but that does not mean Manchester United’s season is over. The Red Devils manager’s honest, if not surprising, admission came in a week when his Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola confirmed that it was Chelsea’s championship to lose. And Mourinho, battling on three fronts for cup success, knows deep down that his chances of a Champions League spot are not great either. He said: “We cannot win the Premier League – that is very obvious. I don’t know how many points or matches Chelsea have to lose. “But I do not measure success this season on being champions, which we are not going to be. There are many other items to evaluate but I certainly don’t measure it by that. “We have to try to win silverware, though. Despite everything, we have to try.” Mourinho was also frank about the future of midfield veteran Michael Carrick (left) and admits he cannot turn back the hands of time. The former England international is out of contract in the summer and by the start of next season will have celebrated his 36th birthday. But if he plays a major part in any United success in the next four months, he still might figure in Mourinho’s plans. The United boss said: “I see many positive things in Carrick but he is not 30.” STEVE MILLAR
UNLITELD will lulled into a false sense of security by Leicester’s struggles.
Instead, Chris Smalling will focus on the attributes that saw the Foxes become Premier League champions.
Last season’s 5,000/1 title triumph was one of the most remarkable feats in sporting history.
The dream rise has been followed by a wretched fall that leaves Claudio Ranieri’s men two points above the S TELVEIMFORGTANS