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Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
National

Leicester City players arrive in Bangkok

Leicester City players and officials arrive at Wat Dhepsirindrawa on Sunday to attend Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's funeral. (Reuters photo)

After beating Cardiff City 1-0 on Saturday, about 40 Leicester City players and officials arrived in Bangkok on Sunday to pay their respects to late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Manager Claude Puel and the squad arrived at Don Mueang airport and boarded a bus to the royally sponsored funeral at Wat Debsirindrawas.

Their 9,600 kilometre flight came exactly a week after Vichai was one of five people killed in a helicopter crash outside Leicester's King Power Stadium following their 1-1 draw with West Ham United.

The last seven days have been full of outpourings of emotion and Saturday's game in Cardiff always felt secondary to the heartfelt tributes that preceded it. A wreath was laid on the pitch and a minute's silence observed by both sets of fans.

"Every single player wanted to get out there to be at the funeral," Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel said. "We are glad we've come away today from a really tough game with a win we can bring to Thailand and hope we did the family proud."

"I feel proud, it's been a really tough week for everyone. The way everyone at the club handles themselves is a testament to the family Vichai built. That took a lot, so proud of how everyone played today, how professional everyone was. It has been an emotional day and glad we got three points for him."

British media reported that in the moments after last month's tragedy, Schmeichel ran towards the crashed helicopter in the car park outside the stadium in a brave attempt to see if he could help.

The Dane said Vichai had had a huge influence on the whole squad.

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