Leicester playing to honour owner who died in accident

Leicester manager Claude Puel insists the result is not important when they play Cardiff on Saturday – the first game since the helicopter crash that killed club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Srivaddhanaprabha and four others died in the tragedy outside the King Power Stadium soon after Leices- ter’s 1-1 home draw with West Ham last Saturday.

Leicester’s next scheduled fixture was postponed – a Carabao Cup tie at home to Southampton – but it was confirmed on Tuesday that the forthcoming Premier League match away to Cardiff would go ahead as planned.

Puel feels he and his players have a responsibility to “continue the Leicester City he built” and the team will play for Srivaddhanaprabha and his family in Wales this weekend.

“Playing football has not been at the front of our minds this week,” said Puel. “But for this weekend, and all the matches thereafter, we play to honour a man who did so much for our club.

“We have a responsibility about the memory and the work he put in place. I’m confident after I saw my players at training that they can give their best.”

Puel revealed how he and his players talked through their feelings as a group on Monday at the club’s training ground.

“All the players are devastated,” Puel said. “This week, on Monday, we made a meeting at the training ground to speak, to share our feelings, it was important not to forget.

“Just to talk between ourselves and to share this difficult moment.”

Leicester’s players and staff have been offered grief counselling in the wake of the disaster.

Tributes: Flowers placed outside Leicester’s stadium