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Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
National
BANGKOK POST AND REUTERS

Leicester City players, officials pay respects to Vichai

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

After mastering a highly-charged occasion to beat 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 on a charter flight and were on board 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 immaculately 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."

Players and officials of the Leicester City football club at Wat Dhebsirindrawas. (AP photo)

British media reported that in the moments after last month's tragedy, Schmeichel ran towards the downed 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.

"You come across very few people that impact you," he said on Saturday. "He had a really big impact on my life. You can see from the reaction that he had an impact on so many lives. I am immensely proud to have known him.

"I can't imagine what his family is going through, we did it for him and his family.

Reuters video

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