MALKY: FANS A CREDIT TO OUR CLUB
Gaffer praises Bluebirds supporters as Arsenal flattered by win
In his post-match press conference, Cardiff City managerMalky Mackayspoke of his pride at seeing his players compete well for two weeks in succession against two of the Barclays Premier League’s heavy-hitters - and praised the class of the City supporters.
Former Bluebird Aaron Ramsey inspired league leaders Arsenal to a 3-0 win at Cardiff City Stadium, but the City Gaffer saw plenty of positives as the winter fixture schedule approaches.
“We were obviously playing against a very good team today,” Malky said. “But I can be proud of my team, because we kept the ball and limited them to few chances in the first half.
"In the second half we decided to press a little higher when space opened up. Szczęsny made a fantastic save from Fraizer’s header which would have made it 1-1, and I don’t apologise for going for it; we were 1-0 down so we had to try and break their back line and upset them.
"I was very proud of the way they did that. We kept the ball off them at times, but we knew that Arsenal had good players that could catch us on the break. I’d rather have a real go and lose by three than do nothing and lose by one.
“The calmness that we had on the ball against a team that have had their manager in situ for seventeen years, and over that time having a lot of money to bring players in; we knew that we were playing against the best, but we’ve proved that we’re certainly not out of our league.
"We’ve played against Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal in this league and we’ve been competitive in all of those games. That gives me great belief that we’ll be in this league next year.”
Arsène Wenger had given a glowing report for the Cardiff supporters' appreciation of the homecoming Aaron Ramsey, insisting the Bluebirds faithful were “fantastic” and adding that he would “love to see more of that” in football.
Of the immense support yet again at Cardiff City Stadium - and indeed the warmth shown to Ramsey, Malky stated: “Our fans are a class act, and they reacted to him [Ramsey] like he was one of their own. There are plenty of grounds that he might have been booed at. I know the young man and he’s also a class act but our fans today showed their appreciation and showed how good they are.”
Attentions now turn to a couple of away trips, first to the Britannia Stadium and Stoke City on Wednesday, and then Tony Pulis’s Crystal Palace next weekend. Malky finished: “We’ve got a game midweek and a game on Saturday, so we’ll turn our attentions to the next one at Stoke tomorrow morning.
"It’s about being consistent, but also not getting too low. We know what league we’re in, and right now it’s about having the belief and calmness. What matters is where we are in May. We have two tough away games coming up, but we’ve just faced two of the biggest sides in Europe, and we’ve acquitted ourselves really well."
