Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Old Trafford

Which idiot wrote these words in August in tipping Leicester City to finish 19th?

"Ranieri's appointment is, at best, left field and at worst uninspiring and unwise. A charming man but perhaps one out of time with the Premier League having last worked there with Chelsea in 2004 and having had a chequered career since.

"The Italian known as "The Tinkerman" for his constant team changes was sacked last year as manager of Greece, an infamous four-month reign notorious for a home defeat by the Faroe Islands.

"Time will tell - but this one does not quite sit right and it is to be hoped Leicester are not plunged back into the danger zone they occupied for so long last season."

Yes that's right - me. Not one of my better ones that. Sorry Claudio - never been happier to be wrong.

Here we go then. Teams in the tunnel. Who inspires the inspirer?

Kasper Schmeichel grabs Wes Morgan in the depths of Old Trafford and has a long word in his ear. Intense.

The atmosphere is crackling, United fans making a right din. 

"Come on lads! Go from minute one!" bawls a Leicester voice as the 22 men enter the arena...

Leicester City

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Forryan, Leicester Till I Die supporters' group: "Sat in pub waiting for kick off still not believing what I could be about to witness. Does it get any better than this as a football  fan??

The Mayor of Leicester Peter Soulsby: "Twelve months ago we were re-interring the remains of the last king of England to die in battle and we were worried about our football team.

"We had the eyes of the world upon us and frankly we thought that it could not get any better, or bigger. Well it has.

"I don't believe in miracles but this is as near as it gets.

Image source, Getty Images

"We've had media interest from across the world. We were on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, I've spoken to two German television crews in the last few days, Chilean television, Italian television twice, it really has attracted worldwide attention beyond anything that we fully understood.

"The interest in our success is beyond any expectations. "

BBC Radio 5 Live

Don't forget that you can catch live updates from Old Trafford with former Leicester midfielder Robbie Savage.

Almost time to go...

Think of it this way.

Obviously, they are both ludicrous, you could even say 5,000-1 shots, but which would you back yourself to do - if you had to:

Image source, Getty Images

Beat Usain Bolt over 100m?

Image source, get

Or beat Chris Froome around the Tour de France?

That's what Leicester are doing. They are wearing yellow down the Champs Elysees...

Do you by any chance know next week's lottery numbers Alan?

Three points. Three points for Leicester would secure their first ever league title in the top flight.

Can they get the job done this afternoon?

Image source, .

Manchester United also need the points. Lose this afternoon and they would be five points off fourth place with nine to play. 

We knew it already but that means that Swansea are 100% safe. They have stayed up. 

It looks like every fan in the away end has been given a t-shirt by Leicester which reads 'Fearless'.

They have absolutely nothing to fear, nothing to lose. Everything to gain.

Kick-off is just 15 minutes away...

Louis van Gaal speaking to Sky Sports: "I think we have to win today, that is a big pressure.

"Leicester do not lose so much and we have to beat them. We want to qualify for the Champions League, we are strong at home and have proven that this season.

"All our matches are must win, our rivals put pressure on us by winning yesterday. We have less injuries so I can choose more or less the same team."

Hindsight is a wonderful thing....

Turns out they were just ahead of the curve...

It could not have gone much worse really could it?