LET’S BUILD ON OWNER’S LEGACY

KASPER SCHMEICHEL admits he will be pleased to see the back of 2018.

But the Leicester star says he has never been more motivated to succeed as he comes to terms with the death of club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

The Denmark keeper has been on a roller coaster of emotions this year.

His outstanding displays at the World Cup saw him short-listed for FIFA’s ‘Golden Glove’ alongside France’s Hugo Lloris and Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois, who lifted the award.

But in October, Leicester were plunged into tragedy. Schmeichel, along with the rest of the club, was devastated by a helicopter crash which claimed the lives of five people, including the Foxes’ popular owner.

Grief

The disaster, after the West Ham home game, stunned the world of football. No one at the club was closer to the chairman than Schmeichel, who waved his friend off for his ill-fated flight as the last player to see him alive.

He also witnessed the blazing wreckage outside the stadium.

He sought the help of a grief counsellor in the aftermath and ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Crystal Palace, Schmeichel said: “It has been a strange year.

“It has been great in so many respects and obviously been awful in so many others.

“In a way I can’t wait for the year to be over to try and turn the page and move on. I will look back on this year with a lot of mixed feelings.” Srivaddhanaprabha’s vision was to put the city on the map and Schmeichel is determined to ensure his legacy lives on at the Foxes.

He and his title-winning colleagues from the 2015-2016 season more than did their bit to earn Leicester worldwide recognition.

But Schmeichel wants more silverware as the club look ahead to their Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to holders Manchester City on Tuesday.

He added: “Winning a league, nothing will ever compare to that – unless we do it again. But this club has taught me anything is possible, whether it is good or bad.

“You don’t take anything for granted.

“For me it is about enjoying every single day and striving for more.

“I know one of Khun Vichai’s dreams was to win one of the cups, so that is definitely one of our aims.

“I would love to get far in the cup and see where we go with that.

“But the motivation to represent this club and Khun Vichai’s family is bigger than ever.”