Leicester\'s Puel says players want to play Cardiff to honour late chairman

VIDEO SHOWS: LEICESTER CITY MANAGER CLAUDE PUEL AT NEWS CONFERENCE / PAYING TRIBUTE TO VICHAI SRIVADDHANAPRABHA / THANKS HIS FAMILY FOR SHARING IN THEIR GRIEF / SAYS HE LAST SPOKE TO VICHAI BEFORE GAME AGAINST WEST HAM SHOWS: LEICESTER, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 1, 2018) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) LEICESTER CITY MANAGER CLAUDE PUEL, ON THE LAST TIME HE SAW VICHAI, SAYING: "I didn't see him after the game, I saw him before the game and he was enjoying it, he was happy with a smile and we discussed a lot in my office and it was a pleasure of course and we couldn't imagine this thing after." 2.

WHITE FLASH 3.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) LEICESTER CITY MANAGER CLAUDE PUEL, ON DECISION TO GO AHEAD AND PLAY CARDIFF AT THE WEEKEND, SAYING: "I have 27 players in the squad and all the players together were ready to train and to give their best 100 percent just to remember the honour on the pitch of the chairman and it was a fantastic feeling to get.

The same thing also was on Wednesday, yesterday, and of course it's important to share all together this moment to give our best and the players, the staff, the club, took the decision to play this game against Cardiff as a group.

I think it was important to have the same feeling and I think we will be right." STORY: Leicester City manager Claude Puel on Thursday (November 1) paid tribute to the victims of the helicopter crash outside the club's stadium on Saturday that left five people dead, including club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

The French manager said at a news conference he saw the late chairman happy and smiling before the match.

Puel said the decision to continue with the schedule and face Cardiff City at the weekend was unanimous between the players and staff at the club, with players eager to honour Vichai on the pitch.

Vichai oversaw the incredible fairy-tale 2015-2016 season when Leicester City, then managed by Italian Claudio Ranieri, overcame odds of 5,000 to 1 to shock the footballing world and win the Premier League title.