A warm welcome for Shakespeare on his emotional return to King Power Stadium

HE PRAISES HIS EX-CLUB – AND TEAM’S COURAGE IN CARDIFF GAME

CRAIG Shakespeare has spoken about the death of Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Khun Vichai was one of five killed in a tragic helicopter crash after the Foxes’ draw with West Ham on October 27.

Shakespeare spent six years at the club, arriving in 2011, a year after the Thai businessman bought City, and departed in 2017 after being sacked as manager.

He was, of course, part of that memorable title win in the 2015-16 season.

Asked if he had spoken to Khun Vichai’s son, Top, Shakespeare told talkSPORT: “I have in terms of text, I had a visit to the training ground last week.

“I left it late because emotionally I had a lot to do with the players, staff and everybody, so you don’t want to feel as though you’re forcing yourself on them.

“I was so pleased that I went down. Not only was I made to feel so welcome, but to see the other staff and to go round and see all the support staff, the laundry ladies, the admin and ground staff.

“And then to go out and see the players and Claude (Puel) - I have to say Claude made me feel so welcome, I had lunch with him.

“But just to offer some sort of support to everyone at the training ground and at the stadium – it felt right to do.”

Shakespeare reserved his most fulsome praise for the players’ conduct in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat of Cardiff City.

Demarai Gray’s strike earned the Foxes an emotional victory in south Wales, with Shakespeare admitting he would have found it difficult to focus during the contest.

“I think it’s very hard from the outside to know what’s best to advise them to do,” he added.

“I spoke to a few of the players, again just to offer some support, just to see if they were all right.

“It’s very hard to focus, you use your own experiences.

“I lost my own father when I was a young lad and I remember going out on the pitch and playing a game.

“It bypasses you – you have real moments in the game where you can’t focus. And as a footballer we know focus is one of the main things.

“So for those players to go out and not only win the game but to turn up emotionally – it will have been a draining experience but one that everyone was willing for everything to have gone okay.”