Leicester City players praise their ‘family’ club, talk coping

It would be hard to imagine a more poignant day than Saturday’s return to the King Power Stadium for Leicester City. Top Srivaddhanaprabha looking on at his father Vichai‘s seat was particularly heartbreaking. Now, some players speak out on the current feelings of the squad:

Events for Khun Vichai surrounding the weekend game between Leicester City and Burnley involved many great memorials: the ‘Walk for Vichai’, for one – in which an estimated 50,000 people took part in a match-day pilgrimage for the late club chairman.

After the match, legendary former managers and players, as well as the current staff and squad, joined Top Srivaddhanaprabha and family on the pitch for a group appreciation for the support of the Blue Army at this dark time.

Although moving, touching and devastating as it is to bid farewell to Khun Vichai, the response and dignity shown by all associated with Leicester City Football Club has – ironically in the circumstances – galvanised the East Midlands club’s family-style respect for one another. Mr chairman would be extremely proud of all.

Consequently, the mood of the players, and staff, surely fluctuates from several emotional upheavals: excitement at their wonderfully rewarding job – for example giving a fan a signature or match-worn shirt. To desperation at the awful recent events. Then, there is emotional and physical strain from jet lag and exhaustion – from travelling to Thailand for the funeral, sandwiched between playing elite sport. A real rollercoaster.

Even watching the video tribute to Khun Vichai before the Leicester City versus Burnley match must have been exceedingly difficult for the team. Despite the teammates watching the clip before the game – in an effort to alleviate some sadness, according to Leicester Mercury.

Now, some of the team have spoken about their feelings at the most testing of times.

Players confess

Following the 0-0 draw, Ben Chilwell said of the emotional occasion:

"“It was difficult. Leading into the game there’s obviously been a lot of emotion. The past two weeks have been difficult but it’s pulled us together and we’ve been stronger for it.” – Ben Chilwell(Via: lcfc.com)"

Unity, is a word to associate with the very powerful camaraderie abundant with the Leicester City teammates. When times are hard, they battle for one another. If a situation is good, they enjoy it as a unit. That strengthened bond will hopefully help them cope with the great loss.

Jonny Evans had some words about unison after the match, too:

"“You’ve got to try and go out and concentrate on the game with all the things that are going on around it.“It was like the Chairman always wanted us to play – with fighting spirit and competing in every game and I think we did that today, like we did last week at Cardiff.“The Club’s really shown its true colours and how much of a family it is.” – Jonny Evans(Via: lcfc.com)"

Marc Albrighton was especially candid in his assessment of the scenario, as quoted by Daily Mail:

"“I can’t speak for everyone else at the club, but for me personally it’s a good time to have a break [from club football, due to international fixtures] and refocus.“It’s been a difficult two weeks, and everything’s still quite raw. We’re absolutely drained, mentally and emotionally. I’m going to spend some time with the kids. It’s important that we get back to our families.” – Marc Albrighton"

Albrighton also, encouragingly, told the Mercury: “At the end of the day I feel like I came through what happened to us.”

In conclusion

To conclude, football matters not at the moment for Leicester City and its faithful. However it must be said, surely the beloved chairman’s wishes definitely would be for his Foxes to continuously fight on. In addition, as he often told Claude Puel: “get three points”, always the three points. That way, the club won’t hover near relegation or suffer set backs to the evolution and momentum, engineered by ‘The Boss’.

Brighton Hove Albion entertain the Foxes in the next round of Premier League fixtures. Puel’s side had scored in every league outing before the Clarets kept them out; the Frenchman will possibly play two strikers against Brighton – Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho – in an attempt to revive the goalscoring prowess of each other.