EPL struggling with tragedy
Riyad Mahrez paid tribute to the Leicester owner killed in a helicopter crash after scoring Manchester City’s goal in a 1-0 win over Tottenham in the English Premier League yesterday.
The footballer celebrated his sixth-minute strike at Wembley Stadium by pointing both arms skyward in memory of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died with four other people when his helicopter crashed outside Leicester’s stadium after a match at the weekend.
Mahrez played for Leicester from 2014 until moving to City this summer, and was a star of their 2016 Premier Leaguewinning team bankrolled by Vichai.
‘‘When you’re on the pitch you try not to think about it but it was a difficult weekend for me. It wasn’t easy for me. I didn’t sleep very well. It’s very sad,’’ Mahrez said in a post-match interview.
‘‘The boss was very important to me. I spent four and a half years in Leicester and I had many, many memories with him. He was such a good person and had such a big heart. It’s very sad for the families as well.
‘‘Leicester is part of my life forever and I’m with them and
the family of Vichai as well.’’
City returned to the top of the standings, on goal difference from Liverpool, after an eighth win in 10 games, and remain unbeaten in their title defence.
Not only did the champions have to overcome a Tottenham side that has made its best ninegame start to a Premier League, they did so on a field damaged and discoloured by an NFL game on Monday.
Coming a day after a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Wembley field had a faded NFL crest in the centre circle, yardage markings all over, and an uneven surface. Both flanks were heavily discoloured.
That hardly made for great PR for the most marketed football league in the world, and it probably didn’t help the quality on show between two of the Premier League’s top clubs, who both play an attractive passing game.
Mahrez also had a shot tipped onto the post by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the first half, while Harry Kane passed up Tottenham’s best chance when he overran the ball in a one-on-one with City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes and was tackled.
Erik Lamela squandered a great chance for an equaliser in the 80th minute, blazing a shot over the crossbar with just Ederson to beat.
‘‘It was important for me to play good today,’’ Mahrez said. ‘‘It was a difficult game, away and especially the pitch, it wasn’t very good. It was very bad to be honest. But we managed to score early, we kept a clean sheet, we stayed very solid.
‘‘Sometimes it’s good to win 1-0 and keep a clean sheet. We’re very happy to get the three points today.’’