‘CARDIFF DID SALA PROUD’
NEIL Warnock revealed he couldn’t hold back the tears after Cardiff City’ “did Emiliano Sala proud” on a stirring night against Bournemouth. Warnock broke down with emotion on the final whistle as he walked onto the Cardiff City Stadium pitch to applaud the fans, with tears in his eyes.
Cardiff had just beaten Bournemouth 2-0 with a performance to pay tribute to Sala, whom the Bluebirds fans had honoured before and during the match.
There had been a mosaic bearing Sala’s name, players and officials wore daffodils and the home supporters exhibited their new ‘song for Sala’ throughout a memorable 90 minutes.
And at the final whistle, a tearful Warnock approached the Canton End to celebrate the victory, before also thanking supporters in the grandstand.
He said:”I was alright until the final whistle went and I went on the pitch.
“The last 10 days or so, I can’t begin to explain how difficult it’s been.
“Knowing the lad, Emiliano as I did, I knew he’d have been really with us today. I just thought the whole club was amazing. I was really pleased for the chairman, Mehmet Dalman and Ken Choo.
“I was the proudest man to be manager of the whole club today, because the fans were just amazing. “And I thought we deserved it.” Bobby Decordova-Reid scored both goals for the Bluebirds to clinch a win that boosts their chances of staying in the Premier League.
But there was no doubt – as Reid showed with his celebration after slotting an early penalty – that they were playing for Sala, as Warnock confirmed.
“It was strange. I was alright until I got across to the far side. Some of (those fans) usually go home earlyish, but it seems everybody stayed - and the noise volume was... it just got higher and higher.
“I’ve never heard anything like today, ever, and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.
“I just felt today really immense pride in everybody.
“It was as if we had to show everybody our support for him, really. Coming back to the main stand to see my wife and my kids, it just hit home that we’d done him proud today.”
Match report and ratings: