Kasper Schmeichel said he was proud to be a part of the Leicester “family” after the club rallied to a victory in their first match since the death of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
The Foxes won 1-0 at Cardiff on Saturday on a hugely emotional occasion, as tributes were paid to Srivaddhanaprabha and the four others killed in a helicopter crash at the King Power Stadium a week earlier.
Goalkeeper Schmeichel admitted he was shaking during the warm-up in the Welsh capital but hailed the professionalism of everyone at the club to get the win, which he dedicated to the owner.
Simply amazing. pic.twitter.com/eDsnrRSq1G — Leicester City (@LCFC) November 3, 2018
“It has been hard. We have tried for a few hours a day to be professional and train hard, but everyone wanted to play and win for his family. His family have been strong, (with) the courage they have had,” the Dane told the BBC’s Match of the Day programme.
“I feel just an overwhelming sense of pride of being part of the family that Vichai built and the extended family of Leicester City.”
Schmeichel and other Foxes players, plus manager Claude Puel, were due in Thailand on Sunday to pay their respects to Srivaddhanaprabha before returning on Tuesday.
“It was nice to get a win to take to Thailand now and hopefully we did his family proud,” Schmeichel said.
“You couldn’t ask for a better chairman. There are few people who come along in this life that have an impact on you. He had that on me and so many people, and the outpouring of grief around the world shows that.
“Everyone grieves in different ways and the opportunity was given (to attend the funeral) and we wanted to go. We are a family and wanted to pay our last respects together.”
Demarai Gray scored the only goal in the 55th minute in Cardiff to earn Leicester the points, and removed his shirt to reveal a tribute to Srivaddhanaprabha.
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