Leicester City play Cardiff tomorrow in their first match since the death of club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha last Saturday.
The Thai billionaire was killed along with four others when their helicopter crashed after taking off from the King Power Stadium following the game with West Ham.
The tragedy has stunned the club and the football world as a whole. For the Leicester team and for manager Claude Puel the result tomorrow against Cardiff will scarcely matter coming after such a traumatic week.
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“Playing football has not been at the front of our minds this week,” Puel said in an emotional press conference yesterday. “But for this weekend, and all the matches thereafter, we play to honour a man who did so much for our club.
“The result is not important, but our desire, our actions to give our best on the pitch to honour our chairman, is the most important thing. I’m confident after I saw my players at training that they can give their best.”
‘We have a responsibility’
Puel explained that it was the Leicester players’ decision to fulfil the fixture against Cardiff, but nonetheless several of them are still coming to terms with the tragic events of six days ago.
Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was one of the first on the scene and Puel said he witnessed the desperate aftermath of the crash.
“Kasper, like the other players, has a lot of history with the chairman and they are all devastated,” said Puel. “We have a responsibility about the memory and work he [Srivaddhanaprabha] put in place. It was the first words from Kasper, ‘we have this responsibility’.”
Speak and share
Explaining that the club’s staff had been offered counselling, Puel said the players had held a meeting to “speak and share” their emotions.
“It was important not to forget but talk among ourselves and share this difficult moment,” he said, adding that when asked if they wanted to return to training on Tuesday all 27 replied in the affirmative.
“I was not surprised but it was a fantastic feeling to see all my players on the pitch,” he said. “All of them were ready to train and give 100% for the honour of our chairman.”
Ranieri returns
Meanwhile Puel’s predecessor at the King Power, Claudio Ranieri, visited the stadium yesterday and paid tribute to the man whose money helped Leicester win the Premier League in 2015-16.
Accompanied by Srivaddhanaprabha’s son, the Italian laid a wreath in honour of the Thai billionaire.
“He was a good man and always had a positive word for everyone,” said Ranieri, who guided the Foxes to that famous title triumph.
“His positivity and ability to make everybody love him was clear for all to see. He came into the dressing room only to dispense kind words, never to reproach you.
“One time soon after my birthday, he arrived in the dressing room with a huge cake and made everyone sing ‘happy birthday’.”
United in grief
Asked to sum up Srivaddhanaprabha, Ranieri replied: “Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha made a very important contribution to the Premier League victory.
“He never said a word out of turn, was always happy with a smile on his face. I am so sad right now, I want to join the family in their grief.”
Premier League fixtures and TV guide
Saturday 3 November (3pm unless stated)
- AFC Bournemouth vs. Manchester United (12.30pm, live on BT Sport 1)
- Cardiff City vs. Leicester City
- Everton vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- Newcastle United vs. Watford
- West Ham United vs. Burnley
- Arsenal vs. Liverpool (5.30pm, live on BT Sport 1)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Tottenham Hotspur (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports)
Sunday 4 November
- Manchester City vs. Southampton (3pm)
- Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace (4pm, live on Sky Sports)
Monday 5 November
- Huddersfield Town vs. Fulham (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
