Cardiff will want to perform for Emiliano Sala, says former striker Nathan Blake
Friday 25 January 2019 08:02, UK
Cardiff's players will want to put in a strong performance in honour of Emiliano Sala when they return to action, according to the club's former striker Nathan Blake.
Guernsey Police confirmed on Thursday the search and rescue operation to find the missing plane carrying Sala and pilot David Ibbotson had ended, while harbourmaster captain David Barker said the chances of survival were "extremely remote".
Argentine striker Sala had been flying from Nantes to Cardiff to link up with his new club, having made the switch from Ligue 1 to the Premier League for a club-record fee of £18m, when the plane disappeared on Monday night.
Cardiff are set to play away to Arsenal in the Premier League on Tuesday night and the club's chief executive Ken Choo has revealed a tribute is planned before kick off.
"Those players will just come together and try to, [in] training, playing, no matter what, they'll just try and do their best with Emiliano in mind," said Blake, who began his career professional career with Cardiff.
"As kind of a mark of respect they'll want to go out and perform - win, lose or draw, just perform."
"I think in times like this you really see what football and fans are like and footballers as well - how the family come together and do genuinely support each other."
Sala's sister Romina appealed to authorities to keep the search going on Thursday night, while his former club Nantes reacted with anger at the decision to formerly call off the search.
