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Claude Puel says Leicester's result at Cardiff 'not important', as Ranieri pays his respects
Leicester City manager Claude Puel says the result of the Foxes’ next match against Cardiff is ‘not important’.
Saturday’s match will be Leicester’s first since the club’s owner died in helicopter at the weekend.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others were killed in the crash outside King Power Stadium on Saturday.
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Puel says it was the Leicester players’ decision to go ahead with the Premier League match in Cardiff.
“Playing football has not been at front of our minds this week,” he said.
“But for this weekend, and all the matches thereafter, we play to honour a man who did so much for our club.
“The result is not important, but our desire, our actions to give our best on the pitch to honour our chairman, is the most important thing.
“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.”
Leicester’s Carabao Cup tie against Southampton, scheduled for this week, has been already postponed.
Claudio Ranieri, who was manager when Leicester won the Premier League title in 2016, also paid his respects at the club today and laid a wreath at the stadium.
Puel started his news conference by reading a statement, where he hailed Srivaddhanaprabha’s impact on the club and said he had struggled to come to terms with the tragedy.
“This has been without doubt one of the hardest weeks in this football club, the tragic loss of five lives has left us numb, with sadness and shock,” Puel said.
READ MORE: Ranieri attends King Power Stadium to mourn Vichai
“Our love is with Vichai’s family and the other families who have lost loved ones.
“Vichai made Leicester what it is. He made it a family, he invested in the club, invested in the city, invested in the people. He truly was loved inside and outside the club.’
He added, “Personally it was privilege to work for him, the belief he showed in me and the great moments we shared.
“Seeing all of the messages, shirts, flowers, shows the amount of lives he touched. He leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered and a vision that the club and myself as manager will take forward.
Puel said in the wake of the overwhelming reaction he has ‘never been prouder’ to be Leicester’s manager.
“In difficult circumstances, the togetherness shown by everyone, has shown what a special club this is.
“Playing football has not been on our minds this last week but for this weekend and all matches after we will play to honour and remember a man who did so much for our club.”
Leicester players and staff have been offered grief counselling in the wake of the disaster, with players such as Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel among those to post emotional tributes online.
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Puel said: “A lot of people have been made available to help the players and staff and I think everyone’s reaction to this event is different and we have to understand that people can have a different reaction but we put in place all the help necessary for all the people.”
Although they are set to return to the pitch on Saturday, their playing commitments could clash with the funeral, which begins on Saturday and could last for up to a week.
However Puel said: “I want to give players the opportunity to go if they want to but I don’t know about the logistics. But the players want to go and support Vichai’s family.”
