Leicester City’s Demarai Gray: “I was putting everything in for Vichai”
Demarai Gray scored Leicester City’s winner in an emotionally charged Premier League match at Cardiff City, Saturday. Following the game, the winger spoke of the magnitude of the day; and his motivation for scoring and victory:
Cardiff City honoured Leicester City’s team and chairman in magnificently appropriate style on Saturday, in the East Midlands club’s first match since tragedy struck. Fittingly though, the Foxes took home the three points. Both sides battled extremely hard in a game of many chances.
Claude Puel on Khun Vichai's usual pre-match wishes for #LCFC:
— Foxes of Leicester (@FoxesofLCFC) November 4, 2018
“‘Three points!’ It was always the words before games from Vichai. All the time it was ‘three points’"
This one's for you, boss 💙https://t.co/iomcrk7OIH
24 shots in total made for an entertaining top-flight fixture. Leicester City edged those attempts and had 20 per cent more possession. Scrappy, but with pockets of class – Claude Puel could not have hoped for more. Especially with his wonderful goalkeeper – a clearly upset Kasper Schmeichel – tearful at the time of the minute’s silence, pre-game.
Leicester would have expected nothing less than a tough outing to Wales; by conducting the same level of intensity themselves – it made for an apposite matchup; of which, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha would so approve.
Many of the squad – Sky Sports report 18 members – travelled to Thailand for Khun Vichai’s Bangkok funeral service. Manager Puel, and some members of the backroom staff accompany the teammates. Players include: Schmeichel, Ben Chilwell, Harry Maguire, Andy King, James Maddison, Jamie Vardy etc.
Gray did it for Khun Vichai
After the Cardiff match, the England squad member explained his performance, what the day meant to him and his incentive. Quote from the LCFC Live website:
"“Vichai was the only reason I was on the pitch today.“I was putting everything in for Vichai. Credit to the fans and everyone involved in football for supporting us. They have helped us through this. I think everyone should be proud of themselves.“It was for Vichai and I think everyone’s happy we got a result for him.“I joined in the January that the club won the league. He was generous, giving and caring. He put other people’s happiness before his.“He was one of those people who was happy when other people were happy.”– Demarai Gray (Via: Leicester Mercury)"
How moving this post match quote is from the Leicester City forward; it was evident from the players’, as well as staff’s, faces that the occasion was huge for them. Their truly sad emotion and positive feelings for their dearly departed chairman, known as ‘the Boss’, worn proudly. That is, before, during and after the contest.
Occasionally, Gray has been accused of greediness, incorrect decision-making and lacking to fulfill potential, on the pitch. Hopefully, the above statement and rather important goal convinces the sceptical that the 22-year-old is finally on the correct path – in order not to become wasted talent. He can become a Foxes great, make no doubt about it! Improvement can come under Puel’s tutelage
Leicester City's marvellous resolve in beating Cardiff City. dark. Next
On Saturday, Leicester City return to the King Power Stadium to face Burnley in the league. The meeting will surely be a poignant one, with memorials and testimonials to the late, beloved Foxes owner. Fitting events are planned – keep up to date with Foxes of Leicester daily, for all details.