Victory a fitting tribute from Kasper and Co

KASPER SCHMEICHEL admits he will never be able to forget the chilling final moments of Leicester’s chairman.

But the Foxes’ keeper is determined to ensure the club thrives in Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s tragic absence to achieve the Thai billionaire’s vision.

Schmeichel, 31, rallied Leicester’s stunned squad in a team meeting after Srivaddhanaprabha’s fatal helicopter crash nine days ago.

And the long-serving stopper, signed from Leeds in 2011, helped lead Leicester to victory at Cardiff with a pumped-up display and clean sheet.

The Dane had to choke back the tears before kick-off in the minute’s silence.

As a close friend of Srivaddhanaprabha and the last player to see him alive, Schmeichel has been affected by the crash as much as anyone.

But he was determined to play after speaking to a grief counsellor and ran the length of the field to celebrate Demarai Gray’s winner.

Schmeichel reflected: “I was on the pitch, I waved him off, I saw it all happen. It was something that will stay with me, unfortunately.

Unique

“It is not a nice memory but the club have been great and everybody has received the support they needed. I spoke to somebody.”

Schmeichel played every game when Leicester won the Premier League title in 2015-2016.

He also starred in the Champions League the next season when the Foxes reached the quarter-finals.

But the Leicester keeper said the match and the victory in south Wales felt unique.

Schmeichel, who had the Thai flag on his gloves, added: “We have had some great times but it felt like a cup final.

“I haven’t really known a feeling like it on the pitch. I am really glad to have won and we dug in. I think everyone is relieved more than anything.”

Boss Claude Puel had given all his players the choice whether they wanted to train and play. But he had his strongest squad to choose from as Schmeichel explained.

He said: “We were brought here by this man to do a job and we wanted to do that for him.

“It was emotional, yes, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It gives you a certain strength.

“It is an emotional day and an emotional time but there was no question I was going to play.”

Schmeichel called all the club’s staff on to the pitch during the minute’s silence to form a long line around the centre-circle with his team-mates before kick-off.

He and club captain Wes Morgan then addressed the group in a huddle before the game got under way.

Schmeichel added: “Wes said a bit, I said a bit, people had a lot to say