Warnock eyes happy ending
NEIL WARNOCK is hoping his Cardiff team can keep going over the next 12 games and stay in the Premier League.
Warnock flew 14,000 miles last weekend to attend the funeral in Argentina of record signing Emiliano Sala, who was tragically killed in an air crash last month on his way to the Welsh capital to link up with his new team-mates.
Now 70-year-old Warnock sees his side kick off a run of three games in nine days at home to Watford tonight. “It is a bit exhausting at this stage, if I’m totally honest,” he said.
“I will look back at the end of the season to see if I’ve enjoyed it or not. It all depends on the outcome.
“It is hard work when you are competing with what we are competing with. But the lads keep helping me out by surprising me and stepping up another gear. Everybody appreciates that our budget is as low as it’s ever been in the Premier League. But stories like this can have happy endings.”
The financial fall-out from the £15million Sala transfer from Nantes to Cardiff continues. Warnock confirmed the
CARDIFF WATFORD
French club have agreed an extension to the date for the first instalment of £5m from the Bluebirds.
“I’ve known Mehmet Dalman [Cardiff City chairman] since I’ve been here and I am quite sure the club will deal with it in the right way in the next few days,” he said.
Javi Gracia has told Watford to set aside Cardiff’s emotional turmoil over Sala’s death and focus only on extending their impressive run.
Just two defeats in 14 games have put the Hornets eighth in the Premier League and through to the FA Cup quarter-finals.
And head coach Gracia says they cannot drop their intensity levels at the Cardiff City Stadium.
“Of course we will try to be very, very respectful because we don’t want anybody to suffer what they have been through, but after all that you have to compete again on the pitch,” he said.