Ranieri: I’ll be last man toknowthe Spurs result

CLAUDIO RANIERI insists he will be the last person to know if Leicester City are crowned Barclays Premier L ea gue champions tonight because he will be returning from lunch in Italy with his 96-year-old mother.

The Foxes boss was due to travel to his homeland last night with his return flight taking place at exactly the same time as second-placed Tottenham Hotspur’s trip to Chelsea.

Leicester could not take their first chance to clinch the Premier League title, drawing 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford, but they will see this most incredible of stories completed should Spurs fail to win at Stamford Bridge against their fierce London rivals.

“Tomorrow night, I am on a flight,” said the Leicester City manager after yesterday’s events at Old Trafford. “I come back from Italy at the same time as the match.

“I will be the last man to know the result.

“I want to meet my mother. She is 96 years old and I’d like to go to have lunch with her.”

Leicester fans travelled to Old Trafford in their thousands in hope and expectation and the atmosphere reflected the magnitude of the occasion.

Wes Morgan’s header cancelled out Anthony Martial’s eighth-minute goal, opening up the possibility of Leicester winning the title before their next match, which is at home to Everton on Saturday.

Ranieri does not care about the nature of the triumph and professed himself content at taking a point from a traditionally formidable venue for visitors.

He is at the stage where he just wants it done and dusted.

“I want to win,” he said. It is not important when, believe me.

“I am so happy because we drew against a fantastic Manchester United. We suffered a lot because they pressed so high.

“We did not come here to win the title, though. We came here to make a good performance because we knew that it was a difficult match.

“The players showed their character, heart and their soul.”

United boss Louis van Gaal was left with mixed feelings, hailing his side’s performance, but admitting the result leaves them needing help from others to finish in the top four.

“The start was unbelievably good,” he said.

“The first 25 minutes was fantastic to see, but then Leicester came more in the match. It is logical.

“They are the future champions and not for nothing.

“I have said to my players that I have seen one of the best matches of the season, I think, but it was not enough.”

United midfielder Marouane Fellaini could be in hot water after being caught on camera elbowing Robert Huth, but van Gaal argued United should have had a penalty after Huth pulled Fellaini’s hair. He also called the Belgian’s response a natural reaction.

Asked if he expected Fellaini to face a ban, van Gaal replied: “Then I expect first that Huth shall be getting a lot (of matches) because I don’t think that is normal what he is doing.”

The Dutchman then went a little further when discussing that contentious hairpull in a television interview with the BBC last night.

“It is not in the books that somebody has to grab with the hair and then pull it behind. Only in sex masochism. Then it is allowed,” he said.

Leicester City did have Danny Drinkwater sent off late on after he earned a second yellow card for dragging back Memphis Depay. Ranieri, however, refused to criticise referee Michael Oliver.

“It wasn’t (a sending-off), in my opinion, but I accept the decision,” he remarked.