MACCA’S GONG WRONG

Cardiff v

Stoke

7pm

BY ALEX BYWATER

MICK McCARTHY joked he should have turned down the Championship’s manager of the month award after it proved to be the kiss of death.

The Cardiff City boss (above) deservedly claimed the gong following an 11-game unbeaten run at the start of his reign.

But in his first match after he picked up the award, the Bluebirds were beaten 2-1 at home by Watford.

McCarthy said: “I should have refused it, given it back to them. It’s the kiss of death, isn’t it? If you’re going to get beat, I’d prefer to get beat after 11 games than after the first two or three.

“The lads have been fabulous. Everything has been going swimmingly, but it was going to end at some stage.

“It’s disappointing and we didn’t want it to end, but it’s all about the reaction now.”

RODRIGO says Leeds players know Marcelo Bielsa is their gaffer and not their pal.

Bielsa is no fan of the buddy-buddy approach when it comes to his players and prefers to keep a professional distance.

But Rodrigo, the club’s £26million record signing, says the stand-off approach works for him. “His personality is what it is, very strong but always respectful,” said the Spain forward (below). “His relationship with players is purely professional.”

Rodrigo, who has worked with many coaches during his career with Bolton, Benfica and Valencia since starting out as a trainee at Real Madrid, says Bielsa (above) is unique. “His methods are nothing like I’ve encountered,” he told

Spanish publication AS. “It’s a more analytical way of working. It’s all about realgame situations.”

The 30-year-old, taken off against Chelsea on Saturday 44 minutes after going on as sub, says Bielsa is more physically demanding than any of his previous coaches.

“The physical demands of the Premier League are high and Bielsa’s demands even more so,” he said.

“But it’s been a stop-start season for me. First, I had to adapt when I arrived and, after I did, I caught Covid. For two weeks I did not play and, when I came back, I got injured.

“In the context of all that, I’m happy with the 20 games I have been able to play this season.”

Rodrigo was questioned when he left Valencia to join newly-promoted Leeds, but he puts the Yorkshire outfit in the same bracket as his other clubs.

“Leeds is a big club,” he said. “In terms of structure and infrastructure, it’s an elite club at the level of the others I have played for.”