Shakespeare: We Know Our Strengths

First Team
26 Aug 2017
2 Minutes
Leicester City must focus on Manchester United’s collective strength, rather than their individual talents, to return with a positive result on Saturday, says Craig Shakespeare.

- Craig Shakespeare wants to see a team performance from Leicester City on Saturday
- City take on Premier League pace-setters Manchester United at Old Trafford (5:30pm kick-off)
- José Mourinho's men are yet to suffer defeat or concede a goal after two games 
- The Foxes have enjoyed landmark successes against the Manchester club in the past

City travel to Old Trafford riding the wave of optimism created by successive victories over Brighton & Hove Albion and Sheffield United, in the Premier League and Carabao Cup.

But Shakespeare, speaking to the media on Thursday afternoon, insists he is under no illusions about the task at hand in Manchester against José Mourinho’s table-toppers.

“The quality signings they have made make them stronger as a squad, stronger collectively,” he said.

“Then you see the first 11. They have a settled squad. They have made the same substitutions. You can see the bedding in they have had over the past 12 months bears the fruit.

“They have made good additions and they look a really powerful outfit.

“You would have to say [Romelu] Lukaku is the biggest threat because of his goalscoring but to pick one out is really hard. They have an all-round game.”

Lukaku has been in impressive form this season.

Mourinho compiles dossiers on his opposition, a blueprint for success that has helped the Portuguese boss secure three English titles and two Champions League honours.

“I think he will be respectful of us,” Shakespeare added, predicting what may be in Mourinho’s City scouting report.

“He will know what we are about and that our threats are the counter attack.

“It is for other managers to decide whether it is a three page dossier or one page, we have to be mindful of not taking our foot off the gas in terms of what we are about.

"We know our strengths and what we are good at, and we have to concentrate on that as well.”