True to form? Derby day will be anything but, says Gunnarsson

CARDIFF City legend Aron Gunnarsson believes all form will go out the window when the Bluebirds take on Swansea City in a mouthwatering derby clash on Sunday.

The former Bluebirds midfielder spent eight years plying his trade in South Wales and, after 286 appearances and two promotions, rightfully earned club-legend status for his exploits here.

He announced he would leave the club at the end of last season, having agreed a deal with Qatari side Al-Arabi, but will always be a hero to fans in this part of the world, central to both of Cardiff City’s Premier League promotion pushes.

Cardiff have endured a middling start to life without Gunnarsson, but, when it comes to derby day, all bets are off.

Neil Warnock has sung the Iceland international’s praises this season and openly admits he has been a big loss to this squad.

In truth, if you gave Warnock the option to bring one player back for just one game, Gunnarsson and the South Wales derby would rank somewhere close to the top of that list.

Gunnarsson was a terrier in midfield and one of City’s leaders, which are invaluable in battles like this. And though he is happy in Qatar, he admits part of him wishes he was striding out at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.

“I have been watching all the games that Bein Sport show,” he told WalesOnline. “I still speak to a lot of the boys and I know how hard they are working for the club and the fans, it is always hard to bounce back from a season in the Premier League, you see it with lot of clubs who come down.

“They are doing well but the game on Sunday is something different, it has nothing to do with form in the league, it’s going to be a battle and I am really looking forward to watching the game and wishing I was there with them.”

Despite being in South Wales for eight years, Gunnarsson took part in just one derby, he came on in the 1-0 win in 2013 thanks to a Craig Bellamy goal – but he says he would have loved to have tasted the rivalry more.

While players try to enclose themselves in their own little bubble, Gunnarsson admits you can’t help but be affected by the almost tangibly exciting build-up to a derby day.

“I unfortunately only took part in one South Wales derby,” he added, “but I knew how much it meant for the fans about the bragging rights of Wales.

“The week leading up to the game you can hear the fans getting more and more excited and how much it means for them. I know what the players are going through because they can feel the excitement from the fans. It’s a great feeling, knowing how much this means to them.”

Gunnarsson says Cardiff is like a second home to him, his two sons were born there and he says he has a ‘special bond’ with the fans and the city itself. Not many would argue with that. But he felt this summer was the right time to leave to seek a new challenge out in Qatar, however he concedes a part of him will always be in South Wales.

“I miss the lads a lot obviously and the club itself, but Qatar was the right move for me,” he added. “I was looking for something totally different and the welcome I have had here has been amazing and me and the family have settled in very quickly.

“Football is different over here but the standard is much better then I thought. Being a part of some changes and trying to better football here in Qatar is good and helping young players here is something I wanted to do also.”

Gunnarsson is currently on the mend following an operation on his foot a few weeks back.

And while dozens of thousands flock to Swansea to soak up the atmosphere, there will be one fan 3,000 miles away feeling every kick and scrape just as much as the players at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.

“Good luck to the lads on Sunday,” he added. “I will be watching, stressed!”