Riyad Mahrez admitted he celebrated his goal for Manchester City against Tottenham to honour former Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
The Algeria international scored six minutes into Monday s match at Wembley to secure a 1-0 victory for Pep Guardiola s side that moved them back to the top of the Premier League on goal difference.
Mahrez pointed to the sky after finishing Raheem Sterling s cross, his goal coming just 24 hours after Leicester confirmed Srivaddhanaprabha was one of five people killed in a helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
The 27-year-old, PFA Players Player of the Year in Leicester s title triumph in 2015-16, said he has found it difficult to sleep in the last two days after the death of a man he grew to know well during his time at the club.
It s been very, very difficult for me, Mahrez told Sky Sports. The boss was very special to me. I spent four and a half years there and I have many memories with him.
He was such a good person, so I m very, very sad, and it s why, when I scored, I put my hands in the sky for him.
He did a lot for me and for Leicester. It s difficult to speak about it because it s so sad.
He was like a dad for us. He was very, very special, such a good person, a very big heart. It was heartbreaking and shocking for me to have this news, of course with all the other people who died with him.
It s a difficult situation. I m with Leicester and the families of the victims.
I always wanted to play [on Monday] because I knew he would have wanted me to play. He was very passionate about football. It was difficult; I kept thinking about him. It was difficult to sleep as well. It s part of life, but it s difficult.
We’re humbled by the support from the football family and the wider world.
Thank you
— Leicester City (@LCFC)
