Leicester City praise 'beautiful' Jose Mourinho gesture ahead of Roma clash

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.

"A beautiful gesture, thank you," City's account responded. City's Europa Conference League clash with Roma is a chance for Brendan Rodgers' side to make more history and put the club, run by Khun Vichai's son Aiyawatt, into its first European final.

But Mourinho knows that it will not be easy and spoke in glowing terms about City and Rodgers. "We have to be at a high level in two matches if we want to reach that dream," Mourinho said of his side potentially reaching the final.

"If you look at their attacking players, look at who they are and how many attacking players they have, probably seven or eight. "Harvey Barnes, Marc Albrighton, Kelechi Iheanacho, Jamie Vardy, Patson Daka, Ayoze Perez, James Maddison and Ademola Lookman.

"They have got lots of attacking potential and quality, and we are