The influence of Sir Alex Ferguson lives on at the top of the Premier League, according to the Leicester City defender Danny Simpson, who has said his club are benefiting from the winning mentality bred by the former Manchester United manager.

Simpson, like his team-mate Danny Drinkwater, is a graduate of United’s academy and he went on to spend four years as a professional on the Old Trafford books before being sold in 2010. Drinkwater left Manchester two year later but that pair, along with Kasper Schmeichel – the son of Peter – retain the attitude cultivated by Ferguson. Simpson believes that is one of the reasons why Leicester have not faded from this season’s title race.

“There are a few of us who have that mentality from the manager, Sir Alex,” said Simpson. “Losing hurts and even when Aston Villa scored that goal [against Leicester last week to claim a 1-1 draw], that hurt us. Especially as a defender I want to keep clean sheets. We kept a few on the bounce and in the dressing room, even though we drew and gone top of the league, it still hurt us. But through being at United from an early age they drive it into you that you play well and want to win.”

“Danny this season has shown it as well and I think he has been one of our key players this season. That has come from the coaches at youth team level at United. Kasper is the same, shouting at us like he is. He wants to keep clean sheets and it hurts him when we concede. We show it out there, how much we fight for each other and try to keep clean sheets because we have the players who, at any moment, can score.”

Leicester’s manager, Claudio Ranieri, continues to play down his team’s chances of finishing top of the league even though they could return to the summit by beating Stoke City on Saturday, a day before the current leaders, Arsenal, host Chelsea. Simpson said the Italian is right to advocate a game-by-game approach rather than make grand declarations of intent. “He is right in what he is saying because it is literally one game at a time,” said Simpson. “You can’t get carried away. Before you know it you can have a few iffy results. Stoke at home is going to be tough game because they are a good team with some very good players who are on form. They will be coming here with no fear and we have to be ready for that.”

Simpson wants Stoke to attack Leicester, believing that will play into his team’s hands thanks to the speed of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, among others, on the counter-attack. “When teams come at us, the players we have got I think that suits us. The players at the back we have we are quite solid. Hopefully we can catch them out, break on them and cause them some problems. Hopefully they will come at us with the players they have.”