BLUEBIRDS & SWANS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
NEIL Warnock has called Cardiff City his “farewell” club as he admitted achieving the miracle of keeping the Bluebirds in the Premier League could be his final act as a manager.
Warnock turns 70 next month and is the second oldest manager of all 92 clubs in the English football pyramid. This weekend’s clash against Brighton will be his 100th in charge of Cardiff.
And the veteran boss admitted he has considered retirement but would love to stay with Cardiff beyond this season, his health permitting.
“When you get to my age, you can’t really look beyond the next few weeks or months, whatever contract or job you’re in,” said Warnock.
“Life changes so quickly, you can’t plan ahead.
“You can hope to. I would love to keep Cardiff up and stabilise them and keep them up again.”
Warnock revealed he was working hard on his own fitness as he approaches his 71st year and insisted this season wasn’t a “farewell” season with Cardiff.
That’s despite his desire to finish his career in south Wales but only after securing the miracle of Premier League survival, in his words.
“My health will decide how long I stay in the job,” he added.
“I don’t think that will change. I look at the club as a farewell club, I don’t think I’ll be leaving and going to another club. I don’t look beyond the next few months - I don’t think you can.
“I have got a fitness regime, working on my health and cutting down on alcohol. I train on my bike and when I see the lads I say ‘never get old lads.’
“It’s harder to motivate yourself, it’s too easy to sit behind your desk and have a bun and a cup of coffee.
“I’ve got this year and next year (contracted to Cardiff) so we’ll see how we go.”
The one thing that keeps driving Warnock on, he says, are the Bluebirds fans who have more than played their part in the club’s success under the Yorkshireman.
“We’ve been on a roller-coaster ride and the fans have been instrumental to that,” he said on his time at Cardiff.
“They’ve lifted me when I’ve been a bit down and they’re the consistent factor, they’re as big as anything.
“We’re better when we’re underdogs and to achieve the impossible this season would be my miles my biggest achievement.
“When I took over the club was a bit fragmented on and off the field and the pride I’ve got is putting the club back together, it’s like putting the
pieces of the jigsaw together. Whenever I meet people from the outside they say ‘thank you for putting my club back together.’
“I’ll always have a soft spot for (Cardiff) because I’ll never forget the fans. It is stressful, but the stress is self-inflicted, it’s what I want to do with my life.
“And in football I want to finish on a high. And a high would be a miracle here.”
As Warnock celebrates his 100th game in charge of Cardiff, he was asked if he could manage 100 more. His reply was tongue-in-cheek. “I think that might be a little bit difficult if I’m honest, but we’ll see how things go this season!” he added.
“There comes a time where I want to see one or two places I haven’t seen before.
“You’ve seen what happened at Leicester and with Glenn Hoddle, who I think is a fantastic guy, it just brings it home to you that life is on a thread.”
Meanwhile, Warnock revealed Kenneth Zohore missed Cardiff City’s 1-0 defeat to Leicester with a calf injury that will keep him sidelined for this weekend’s clash with Brighton.
But the Bluebirds are set to be boosted by the return of Joe Ralls, who has been out with both injury and suspension for the past three matches. Jazz Richards (hamstring), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (knee) and Lee Peltier (shoulder) are the others ruled out with injury, although Warnock revealed Ralls and Danny Ward could return.
Ralls was sent off against Tottenham Hotspur and incurred a threematch ban but he’s also been struggling with a chipped bone in his knee.
“He’s training, he’s been out with this knee problem and he’s eligible to come in on Saturday,” said Warnock on the midfielder.
“He’s not been able to do any training until this week. He’s a fit lad and he had a tough day yesterday and we’ll see how he is. He’ll definitely be in the squad on Saturday.”
Ralls return to the starting XI would be a welcome one with Harry Arter missing after picking up five yellow cards and a one-match suspension.
“I’m really disappointed all over on that, that he couldn’t curb himself but I’ve got to live with that. I suppose that’s why I got him on loan,” said Warnock on the combative on-loan Bournemouth star.
Warnock then revealed the reason behind Zohore’s previously unexplained absence from the matchday squad against Leicester.
“Zohore’s had a calf injury which hasn’t helped us,” he said.
“That’s the difference with the top teams, they’ve got Under-23 internationals to come into the squad, whereas we’ve only got 17 or 18 with the injuries we’ve got. That shows the massive divide really.”
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