Leicester's Kasper Schmeichel says 'emotions still raw' on Cardiff return with Denmark
Tuesday 13 November 2018 07:37, UK
Kasper Schmeichel admits "emotions are still very raw" as he returns to Cardiff - where Leicester City won their first match after their owner's death - with Denmark.
The Leicester goalkeeper was in tears as his side won 1-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium just a week after the helicopter crash which claimed the lives of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others outside the King Power Stadium.
Schmeichel will return to the Welsh city for the second time in two weeks on Friday when Denmark play Wales in the UEFA Nations League.
"The emotion is still raw, we're still in the memory of it," he told Sky Sports News ahead of that match.
But the 32-year-old, who was praised by Wales manager Ryan Giggs for the "class" he has shown in the last month, insists his performance will not be affected.
"In the end we had a good experience in Cardiff because we won, I chose to leave here with positive feelings," he added.
Schmeichel wrote a heartfelt tribute to Srivaddhanaprabha in a special match programme for Saturday's goalless draw against Burnley, which was the club's first home match since the crash.
He revealed he had waved Srivaddhanaprabha off as the helicopter left the stadium moments before it came down.
Leicester City is a club where players want to stay.
Schmeichel was part of Leicester's '5000-1' Premier League title victory in 2016, and says Srivaddhanaprabha built a "special" environment that means players do not want to leave.
"That's testament to the family that Vichai built, the way he led the club, the visions and dreams he had, the way he got everyone together and on board," Schmeichel said.
"In football players chop and change a lot, I think Leicester is a club where players want to stay.
"You can see that by the players we have now extending contracts long term.
"Everyone has bought into his vision and ideas, now it's up to us to help his son and family carry on his vision, his ambitions and dreams.
"That's a responsibility we have to take now."
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