Match Preview: Leicester City vs. Manchester United

Leicester City play their final fixture before kicking-off their 2016/17 Premier League campaign, as they head to Wembley Stadium to take on Manchester United. 

Having faced Oxford United, Celtic, Paris Saint-Germain and most recently Barcelona in pre season, the Foxes now take on the winners of the 2016 FA Cup as the first silverware of the season comes up for grabs. 

Last time out, City were beaten 4-2 by Barcelona at Friends Arena in Stockholm, as Ahmed Musa opened his account for the Club with a brace. 

Sunday will be the first time since 2000 that City have made an appearance at Wembley and their first at the new 90,000-seater stadium, as they look to add a second Community Shield to their trophy cabinet, having won it back in 1971. 

Manchester United’s pre-season campaign came to an end on Wednesday after they drew 0-0 with Everton at Old Trafford in Wayne Rooney’s testimonial match. 

Jose Mourinho’s men began pre season with a 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic, before losing 4-1 to Borussia Dortmund in China and beating Galatasaray 5-2 in Sweden. 

The Red Devils booked their spot at Wembley by defeating Crystal Palace 2-1 thanks to goals from Juan Mata and former Foxes loanee Jesse Lingard. 

Last season’s first encounter with Man Utd saw Jamie Vardy score for an 11th-consecutive Premier League game, before the point at Old Trafford in May, courtesy of Wes Morgan’s header, eventually went on to secure the title. 

Speaking to LCFC TV after the clash with Barcelona, Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri said: “I'm very pleased with our performance. In the first half, we showed good discipline and tried to play our football, but at this moment of pre season, it’s not possible. I am very confident. 

“It was good. We tried to do something good. Of course when you make little mistakes against so many champions, they can invent anything. 

“I’m very happy with the discipline and momentum of pre season. Of course, we didn’t win, but we are in the right way. 

“It was a very hard training session because when Barcelona keep possession of the ball, you have to move very quickly to press and go on the counter attack. For this reason, I’m very pleased.” 

After Wayne Rooney’s testimonial, Jose Mourinho said of the striker: “This one is for Wayne Rooney and for the fans in that perspective to show love for a player who has been magnificent for our club. But I'm not a friendly match man. I'm waiting for the big ones. 

"You know, I follow from the outside but close because the season he joined Manchester United is the season I came to England for the first time, 2004. I've been here already for two different periods and I was close to it. I can say, because everybody knows, I tried to buy him. 

"He is a player I always wanted to have in my side. Finally, I have him and I have him in the club he loves, the club where he has spent the best years of his career. And, I think, the best is yet to come from him. 

"I find him full of motivation, full of joy to work every day, and happy to be here as a leader for the young people. He's my man too. I can say, at this moment, he is my man. I am really happy. I hope he has a great night and he forgives me when I change him. I am going to change him because we have a match on Sunday.” 

Head to head (all competitions): 

Leicester City: 33

Draws: 28

Manchester United: 60

Last three meetings: 

Manchester United 1 Leicester City 1 

Premier League 

Sunday 1 May, 2016 

Goals: Martial 8; Morgan 17 

Leicester City 1 Manchester United 1 

Premier League 

Saturday 28 November, 2015 

Goals: Vardy 24; Schweinsteiger 45 

Manchester United 3 Leicester City 1 

Premier League 

Saturday 31 January, 2015 

Goals: Van Persie 27, Falcao 32, Morgan o.g.44; Wasilewski 80 

Summer signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic made an immediate impact for Manchester United, netting on his debut against Galatasaray in Sweden. 

The Sweden international striker joined the Red Devils on a free transfer following a four-year stay at French giants Paris Saint-Germain. 

Ibrahimovic has enjoyed a trophy-laden career across Europe, winning league titles at Ajax, Juventus, Internazionale, Barcelona, AC Milan and PSG. 

His stunning goalscoring record sees him widely regarded as one of the best strikers in modern football, and City must be on top form to halt the Swede should he be involved on Sunday.