Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez dedicated his match-winning goal against Tottenham to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha following the Leicester owner’s death.
The Algerian’s sixth-minute strike sent City back to the top of the Premier League at Wembley and he celebrated by pointing to the sky in dedication to his former chairman, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Saturday night.
Mahrez, who joined City in the summer, was a key figure in Leicester’s stunning Premier League triumph in 2015-16 and was affected by the events at the King Power Stadium over the weekend.
“It’s been very difficult,” he told Sky Sports. “The boss was very special to me, I spent four-and-a-half years there.
“He was such a good person and I’m very, very sad. That’s why I put my hands in the sky for him.
“He did a lot for me and for Leicester. He was like a dad to us. He had a very big heart. I was heartbroken to hear this news.
“It’s a difficult situation and I’m with Leicester and the families of the victims.
“I always wanted to play, he would have wanted me to play. He was passionate about football.”