Football
PA Sport 9y

Nigel Pearson and Leicester focusing on future ahead of Manchester United

Boss Nigel Pearson admits Leicester have been "trying to forget" their Manchester United heroics ever since they beat them 5-3. The Foxes face a rematch with United when they go to Old Trafford on Saturday.

Their 5-3 win against Louis van Gaal's side in September was their standout victory of the Premier League season, but it was followed by a 13-game winless streak.

Leicester have failed to lift themselves off the bottom of the table after the run, despite winning two and drawing one of their last four league games.

Pearson, who guided the Foxes to a 2-1 FA Cup win at Tottenham last week, insists they must ignore the reminders of the past and focus on the present.

"We've been trying to forget about it ever since," said Pearson. "It was great, but until we beat Hull (in December) that was the last time we won.

"I think the best thing for us to do is concentrate on what we are doing at the moment. I don't know if it has affected anything. It obviously has as the question has been asked.

"I don't spend much time looking at those angles. The game at our place was a very good result for us, we had a very good second half and scored at vital times. But those are not the sort of events that happen every week."

Van Gaal admitted United looked unbalanced during their defeat at the King Power Stadium, where they played a diamond, and fans have called for him to shelve his preferred 3-5-2 formation and switch to 4-4-2.

Pearson has sympathy for the Dutchman and insisted Van Gaal's United overhaul will take time.

"I've never been in any doubt their manager will play the way he wants to," he said. "But it may be a situation where he gets all his players in before the way he totally wants to play. That happens with everyone, it happened with us.

"I would hope whoever we play have a healthy respect for us. But his track record as a manager is outstanding and he's proved many times over the years he is capable of building sides. Over the initial building period there is rebuilding to do.

"I can only speak from my own experience but you have to get enough results while you're going through the building process to keep people on side or keep your job."

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