Jose Mourinho pays Khun Vichai tribute as Brendan Rodgers calls on duo to replicate Jamie Vardy

AS Roma boss Jose Mourinho has paid tribute to late Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Mourinho was at the King Power Stadium for a press conference before his side's Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against City on Thursday. Khun Vichai passed away after the helicopter he was aboard crashed after a City game in October 2018.

Kaveporn Punpare, Nusara Suknamai, pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Lechowicz also passed away, having been onboard the helicopter with Khun Vichai. A memorial garden and statue has been installed in his memory outside the King Power Stadium, and Mourinho placed a wreath at the foot of the statue on Wednesday.

The statue was officially unveiled three weeks ago in an emotional ceremony at the stadium. "A moment of remembrance on the eve of a big game for both of our clubs," Roma's official Twitter account wrote alongside a video of Mourinho paying tribute to Khun Vichai. Read more here.

Leicester City’s back-up strikers will have to match Jamie Vardy’s energy if the club’s talisman is not able to start the huge clash with Roma.

City boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed Vardy will be in the squad for the Europa Conference League semi-final first leg but would not give away if the 35-year-old was ready to line up from the first whistle. After overcoming a knee injury, Vardy played 20 minutes off the bench against Aston Villa at the weekend, his first appearance in more than a month.

In fact, Vardy has not played a single of the club’s Conference League games against Randers, Rennes, or PSV, having also had a hamstring injury earlier in the year. Patson Daka and Kelechi Iheanacho have been leading the line in his place, and if they do so again, Rodgers has told them