After a fortnight of emotional intensity, Leicester can at last take a collective deep breath.
Chief executive Susan Whelan has given everyone at the club — around 250 people — Monday off in a move designed to acknowledge the energy consumed amid the grief over Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and the four others who lost their lives in the helicopter crash of October 27.
Certainly the players not away on international duty will be grateful for the break. Marc Albrighton admitted many members of Claude Puel’s team are ‘absolutely drained’.
Srivaddhanaprabha’s son Aiyawatt flew back to Thailand on Saturday night but is expected to be back for the Carabao Cup tie against Southampton on November 27 and the visit of Watford in the Premier League four days later. In the intervening period a decision is likely to be made on the club’s chairmanship; it is expected that Aiyawatt will assume his father’s role.
Aiyawatt ended Saturday’s draw by leading a lap of the pitch alongside brother Apichet. Before kick-off he had attended the memorial site of flowers, scarves and shirts beside the car park. Fans applauded and some followed with a large banner saying, ‘We stand with you, Top.’
That is the message from the players too. ‘We’ve spent quite a lot of time with him over the last two weeks — in Thailand and here, around the club,’ said Albrighton.
‘He’s staying strong, staying positive, but he won’t tell us anything that’s going to happen moving forward. Everyone needs to realise he’s a normal person with family and friends and he needs to spend time with them.
‘The last two weeks have been a bit of a blur and we’ve not really had time to reflect on everything that’s happened. It’s a good time to have a break and refocus. We’re absolutely drained, mentally and emotionally. It’s important that we get back to our families.’
Leicester started with purpose against Burnley, with Jamie Vardy seeing his shot cleared off the line, but they ran out of steam.