Claude Puel says the outcome of Leicester’s Premier League match with Cardiff on Saturday is irrelevant with the sole focus on honouring Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
Speaking ahead of the visit to Cardiff, Puel said: “The game is not important, the result is not important but our desire, our action, our power to give our best on the pitch, to honour our chairman – I think is the most important thing.
“The result is the second thing but I think about our condition, our focus. We will be ready but I hope we can find a good balance between conviction and emotion in this game because if we remain just on the emotion it will be difficult.
“But I am confident after seeing my players at a training session that they can give their best for a few minutes and I hope we can have this feeling just for the game. Before and after, we cannot forget.
“I think we have a responsibility to continue this way and I think all the players are ready to compete.”
Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was particularly close to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and was one of the first players on the scene of the helicopter crash.
Asked if Schmeichel had tried to help, Puel said: ” Yes. I don’t want to give out the details of course just for Kasper, he lives this situation and he saw a lot of things.
“Kasper, like the other players, they all have a lot of history with the chairman and they are all devastated. After, (the crash) I saw Kasper, I think he was the only player still here after the game. It was difficult, very difficult.”
The Leicester boss also revealed a number of his players are keen to attend the late chairman’s funeral, which will start on Saturday in Bangkok could go on for several days.
“I want to give players the opportunity to go if they want to but I don’t know about the logistics,” he said.
“But the players want to go and support Vichai’s family, his wife and Top (his son).”