Leicester players to be given option NOT to play Premier League clash at Cardiff
LEICESTER’s anguished stars will be given right up until kick-off to pull out of today’s match at Cardiff.
Posted Saturday, November 03, 2018 by Dailystar.co.uk
Leicester players will be given the option whether to play or not in Cardiff tomorrow
Foxes boss Claude Puel says he’s well aware of how much his players are struggling to cope with the helicopter tragedy which killed owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha last Saturday night.
Leicester’s billionaire chairman and four others lost their lives when his private helicopter lost control and crashed outside the King Power Stadium.
And while the likes of Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel are desperate to return to action today, Puel says he will have one final check on his squad before handing in his team sheet at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Puel said: “I won’t dictate anything - we will wait. We will make the point even on the day of the game that everything is open.
"The first thing is to listen to my players and to the different feelings.
"I said after this incident we have to understand people and the man, not the player. The player is the second thing. The most important thing is the man.
"All the players are ready and fit to compete but it will be important to find a good balance between emotion and concentration and play.
"From what I’ve seen, I think all the players would like to play and that’s why we wanted the game to go ahead.
Tributes for Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha have been pouring in around the ground all week
"But the option not to play will be there. Although we are a team, it is still a very personal thing.”
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Leicester’s Carabao Cup clash at home to Southampton on Tuesday was postponed.
The funeral ceremony starts today in Bangkok and goes on for six days with the entire squad due to fly there after the game to pay their respects.
Players will wear black armbands today and there will be a minute’s silence before kick-off.
Cardiff fans also plan to unveil a giant Thai flag at the game in honour of Srivaddhanaprabha.
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