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Tag: Leicester City

  • EPL: Chelsea suffered mental confusion in defeat to Leicester – Sarri

    EPL: Chelsea suffered mental confusion in defeat to Leicester – Sarri

    Maurizio Sarri has said “mental confusion” affected his Chelsea players as Leicester City inflicted a first home defeat of the season on the Blues.

    The result left Chelsea 11 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and level with Arsenal in the race for Champions League qualification, but after the game Sarri was more concerned with his team’s reaction to going behind in the second half.

    “I think we played very well for 55 minutes,” Sarri said. “We played very good football.

    “After the goal, the reaction was, for me, a strange reaction. Not in the right direction. Not as a team, but as 11 different players. So it was really very strange.

    “I think we could have done better with the reaction. We had only to continue to play as in the first part of the match. There was time to score without a reaction like a team shocked, a team in mental confusion.”

    It is not the first time this season that Sarri has publicly questioned the mentality of his players following a defeat.

    “I don’t know,” he said when asked why the problem keeps happening. “If I knew, I’d solve the problem for this match. It’s difficult to understand because we have players with a lot of experience.”

    Sarri once again deployed Hazard as a false nine against Leicester, and he said that the strategy was working until Vardy scored.

    “I was really very happy at the end of the first half because, for me, we played very well,” he said. “We were dangerous and we conceded nothing to the opponents in the first half.

    “So I was really very happy with the team, with the solution with Hazard. Then, after the goal, the position of Hazard was not important.”

     

  • EPL: Vardy scores as Leicester shock Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

    EPL: Vardy scores as Leicester shock Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

    Jamie Vardy strike helped Leicester City defeat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in a Premier League fixture on Saturday.

    Vardy’s second-half strike saw Maurizio Sarri’s side defeated at home for the first time this season.

    Chelsea were dominant before the break and struck the bar through Eden Hazard, the best of a host of chances, that came following a Harry Maguire error.

    But having gone behind it was Chelsea who became sloppy and Leicester only grew in strength.

    Indeed, the Foxes might have doubled their lead but for Cesar Azpilicueta’s sliding block to deny Vardy after Kepa Arrizabalaga had spilled a cross, before the keeper saved well from Marc Albrighton.

    Chasing a goal of their own, Chelsea could not break down Leicester’s resistance, despite creating two key late chances.

    In the 89th minute, Antonio Rudiger nodded just wide from a corner, before Marcos Alonso struck the post with only the keeper to beat.

    The Blues had not lost at home since 1 April, against Tottenham, and this defeat leaves them level on points with fifth-placed Arsenal, who beat Burnley 3-1 earlier on Saturday.

    Vardy has scored 13 goals in his last 15 Premier League appearances against the ‘big six’ sides.

     

  • Leicester City squad return from late owner’s funeral

    Leicester City squad return from late owner’s funeral

    Leicester’s squad have arrived back in England after attending the funeral of club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in Bangkok, Sky Sports report.

    Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, was among five people killed when his helicopter crashed moments after taking off from the King Power Stadium following the match against West Ham on October 27.

    The chairman was a hugely popular figure at the club and a large Leicester delegation including players and coaching staff travelled to Thailand for his funeral, which began on Saturday.

    In total, 18 players attended part of the week-long ceremony at Wat Thepsirin temple, including Kasper Schmeichel, who witnessed the crashed outside the King Power Stadium.

    Manager Claude Puel was also in attendance, along with director of football Jon Rudkin, chief executive Susan Whelan, and other Leicester directors.

    The delegation arrived back in England on Tuesday morning.

    Leicester next face Burnley on Saturday in their first match at the King Power Stadium since the crash.

  • Leicester City players to attend club owner’s funeral in Thailand

    Leicester City players to attend club owner’s funeral in Thailand

    Striker Jamie Vardy and his Leicester City team mates will travel to Thailand for the funeral of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha after Saturday’s English Premier League match against Cardiff City.

    The 60-year-old billionaire died last Saturday with four others when his helicopter crashed next to Leicester’s King Power Stadium.

    The funeral, likely to last a week, starts on Saturday in Bangkok.

    Former England international Vardy said on Friday that he and the other players had to be there.

    “That’s how we are — we are a close-knit group. We are one big family and one of the main reasons for that is Vichai,” he said. “For us to be there is massively important.”

    Vichai bought Leicester in 2010 and the team went on to stun the football world by winning the English Premier League title against the odds in 2016.

    Vardy said the last week had been the hardest of his life but the players, who will travel by road to Cardiff, were keen to play on Saturday.

    “We all spoke about wanting to play,” said Vardy. “It’s what Vichai would have wanted and that’s we are going to do.

    “We know what we have to do and we need to go out and honour his name and put in a performance which will hopefully get the win.

    “It is going to be tough and it will be very emotional, but we’ve all chatted about it. People are saying the result doesn’t matter, but for us lads we want to make it a positive result.”

    Leicester City are 12th in the table on 13 points, while promoted Cardiff City are 17th with five points from 10 games.

    Cardiff City fans are planning to unveil a giant flag with the Thai emblem at the match.

    FReuters/NAN

  • Why Leicester owner’s helicopter crashed – Investigator

    The helicopter crash which killed Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four other people probably began with a “major failure of the tail rotor”, a senior air investigator said on Wednesday, Metro reports.

    Tony Cable, a former senior investigator at the Air Accident Investigations Branch, assessed poignant footage of the chopper as it descended from the skies at the King Power Stadium on Saturday. Speaking to Sky News’ Kay Burley Show, he alluded to “white pieces” seen “flying off” the helicopter as it left the pitch.

    He said, “There’s quite a number of them. (They) could be part of a rotor blade. It’s certainly a possibility, particularly considering what happens after that, which is when the helicopter starts rotating in the opposite direction from the main rotor. This is what you’d expect if you lose tail rotor thrust.

    “There is then a five or six second period before the helicopter starts rotating. The normal technique [to avoid this] is to cut the power, the power from the main rotor. ‘But this is clearly way out of control. ‘It’s very consistent with a tail rotor failure. I gather there haven’t been any of such on the AW169 (the helicopter).”

    The Leonardo AW169, favoured by executives, millionaires and the emergency services, one of the most advanced in the world. But an experienced helicopter pilot told Leicester Mercury, “If the whole tail rotor shaft goes for instance, the helicopter begins to spin around its main rotors immediately at a tremendous speed.

  • Leicester City owner 'like a dad' to me – Mahrez

    Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez said Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was “like a dad to me” after dedicating his match-winning goal against Tottenham to the Leicester owner killed in a helicopter crash on Saturday.

    Srivaddhanaprabha and four others died in the crash at King Power Stadium.
    Mahrez, who played 179 times for the Foxes between 2014 and 2018, said he had found it difficult to sleep.
    “It has been very, very difficult for me,” the Algerian told Sky Sports.
    “The boss was very special to me. I spent four and a half years there and have many memories with him.
    “He was such a good person and had a big heart. It was heart-breaking and shocking for me to hear this news and for all of the other people who died with him. I am with Leicester and the family of the victims.”
    Mahrez joined Leicester from Le Havre for £400,000 and was named Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Season in their remarkable title-winning season in 2015-16.
    The Algerian moved to Manchester City for £60m in July.
    Mahrez scored the only goal in Manchester City’s win at Wembley, and celebrated by pointing to the sky in memory of the man who was in charge of Leicester throughout his time at the club.
    “When I scored I put my hands in the sky for him,” said Mahrez. “He did a lot for me and Leicester and it is difficult to speak about.”
    Mahrez said he did not consider missing the game, despite struggling to sleep since Saturday.
    “I always wanted to play,” he added. “I know he would have wanted me to play. He was passionate about football. It was difficult, I kept thinking about him.”
    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described the past few days as “a tough moment” for Mahrez.
    “He knew the owner well,” said Guardiola. “For all of the Leicester family it’s tough but here Riyad was very focused and he did a great job.”

  • Leicester City owner's wife, son visit crash site

    The wife and son of Leicester City’s owner have laid a wreath at the club’s stadium after he was killed alongside four others in a helicopter crash.

    Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of staff, the pilot and a passenger, all died after the aircraft spiralled out of control outside the ground.
    The club’s first team and youth squad were also at the King Power Stadium.
    According to BBC, a team investigating Saturday night’s crash has recovered the aircraft’s digital flight data recorder.
    Leicestershire Police named the other people killed in the crash as Nursara Suknamai, Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
    The club chairman’s wife Aimon and son Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha were joined at the ground by the president of the Thai FA, Somyot Poompanmoung and his wife, Potjaman Poompanmoung.
    Manager Claude Puel joined his players, while vice-chairman Aiyawatt returned to see the tributes after arriving earlier in the morning when around 200 fans broke into spontaneous applause.
    The family met players inside the stadium before laying their wreath.

  • Leicester City players pay tribute to late owner

    Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel led his team-mates in paying tribute to “dedicated and passionate” owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who was killed in a helicopter crash outside King Power Stadium on Saturday.

    Schmeichel wrote an open letter to the owner in which he expressed his admiration for him “as a leader, as a father and as a man”.
    “It is difficult to put into words how much you have meant to this football club and to the city of Leicester,” he added.
    England internationals Jamie Vardy, Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell were among the other Foxes players to pay tribute.
    Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff – Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare – pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz, herself a pilot, died when the aircraft crashed at about 8:30pm on Saturday.
    According to BBC, witnesses said the helicopter just cleared King Power Stadium before it spiralled out of control and crashed in a fireball.
    A book of condolence will be opened at King Power Stadium from Tuesday morning and the team’s next fixture against Southampton in the EFL Cup, which was scheduled for Tuesday evening, has been postponed
    Many of Leicester’s players referred to Srivaddhanaprabha as ‘The Boss’.
    “I cannot believe this is happening. I am so totally devastated and heartbroken. I just cannot believe what I saw last night. It just doesn’t seem real!” added Schmeichel, who reportedly stayed at the club’s ground till Sunday.
    “It is difficult to put into words how much you have meant to this football club and to the city of Leicester. We all know about the investment in the football club you and your family have made. But this is about so much more.
    “You cared so deeply for not just the club but for the entire community. Your endless contribution to Leicester’s hospitals and charities will never be forgotten. You went above and beyond in every aspect.”
    Srivaddhanaprabha bought Leicester in 2010 for £39m, cleared their debts and saw the club win promotion to the top flight four years later. They then beat odds of 5000-1 to claim the Premier League title in 2015-16 in one of the greatest sporting stories of all time.
    “You changed football. Forever!” Schmeichel added. “You gave hope to everyone that the impossible was possible, not just to our fans but to fans all over the world in any sport!”
    England defender Maguire, meanwhile, described the owner as a “truly great, kind, loving man”.
    “Words can’t describe how I feel,” Maguire wrote on Twitter.
    “I will never forget the chairman’s support, not only during my time [at] LCFC but also during the World Cup,”
    Fellow City defender and England left-back Chilwellsaid Srivaddhanaprabha was “one of the best people you could wish to meet”.
    Writing on Twitter, he added: “He has brought us all together. So now we must stay together as a city and achieve what he knew we could.”
    Vardy, whose goals were so important to the club on their unlikely march to the league title, said: “Struggling to find the right words, but to me you are a legend, an incredible man who had the biggest heart, the soul of Leicester City Football Club.
    “Thank you for everything you did for me, my family and our club. I will truly miss you, may you rest in peace.”
    Wes Morgan, captain of the title-winning side, said he was “absolutely heartbroken and devastated”.
    “You were a great person who cared so much about our club, city and everything which came with it,” tweeted Wales midfielder Andy King, who has been at Leicester for 12 years. “Thank you for enabling us to make our dreams a reality and I hope you were as proud of your club as we were of you.”
    “You made mine and everyone else’s dream come true,” added Foxes full-back Danny Simpson.
    Winger Demarai Gray said Srivaddhanaprabha was “a generous, kind man who always had a smile on his face”.
    Forward James Maddison, who joined in the summer said: “Devastated and heartbroken at the news that no one survived the helicopter crash yesterday. Life isn’t fair sometimes.”

  • Leicester City owner among five dead in helicopter crash

    The owner of Leicester City FC died when his helicopter crashed outside the stadium, the club has confirmed.

    Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff, the pilot and a passenger were killed when the aircraft crashed at about 8:30pm on Saturday, BBC reports
    Witnesses said the helicopter just cleared the King Power Stadium before it spiralled out of control and crashed in a fireball.
    Thousands of bouquets and scarves have already been left outside the ground.
    Leicestershire Police said it believed the dead to be:
    – Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
    – Two members of his staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare.
    – Pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
    Mr Vichai, 60, who was married and had four children, bought Leicester City for £39m in 2010.
    Under his ownership the club won the Premier League in 2016, having started the season as 5,000/1 outsiders.
    In a statement, Leicester City said the club’s thoughts were with “the Srivaddhanaprabha family and the families of all those on-board at this time of unspeakable loss”.
    The club described Mr Vichai as “a man of kindness, of generosity and a man whose life was defined by the love he devoted to his family and those he so successfully led”.
    “Leicester City was a family under his leadership. It is as a family that we will grieve his passing and maintain the pursuit of a vision for the club that is now his legacy,” it added.
    A book of condolence will be opened at King Power Stadium from Tuesday morning. The team’s next fixture against Southampton in the EFL Cup, scheduled for Tuesday evening, has been postponed.

  • Leicester City owner's helicopter crashes

    The Leicester City owner’s helicopter has crashed in a car park outside the club’s ground shortly after taking off after a match.

    Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was in the helicopter when it came down at about 20:30 BST on Saturday, a source close to the family has told the BBC.
    Witnesses said they saw it just clear the stadium before it spiralled out of control and crashed in a fireball.
    The Foxes on Saturday played 1-1 draw against West Ham United with a late equaliser from Wilifred Ndidi at King Power stadium.
    Pictures from outside the ground showed a large fire in the car park although it has now been extinguished, according to reports.