Ranieri: Cash No Passport To Winning

Claudio Ranieri says money does not guarantee success but admits it is "only once in a lifetime" that a team such as Leicester will contend for the Premier League title.

The Foxes have lost just three times in the league this season and are currently on the brink of becoming champions, leading second-placed Tottenham by seven points with three games remaining.

Leicester travel to Manchester United on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, while Spurs head to Stamford Bridge to face last year's champions Chelsea on Monday, also live on Sky Sports.

While the league leaders have spent less than £30m on their squad since last summer, United have fielded sides that have cost over £200m.

Shinji Okazaki was Leicester's biggest outlay at a reported £7m, while United splashed out £25m on Memphis Depay, plus an initial £36m for Anthony Martial, so Ranieri feels money does not have to be the defining factor.

"Once in a life it can happen," said Ranieri. "That is football. Once every 50 years a little team with less money can beat the biggest ones.

"If there are 20 teams who spend millions of pounds, at the end of the season only one will win the title and three will go down.

"Now there are very special circumstances: The big teams don't have the consistency and normal teams have the consistency during the season.

"From August to April and now it's important to keep the same consistency in May.

"I'm waiting for next season, United at the top, Chelsea at the top, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal and we are fighting."