Riza post-Swansea City | Making an impact
Omer Riza spoke to the press following a 1-1 draw in the South Wales derby on Saturday afternoon.
City fought back well in the second period, with Callum Robinson netting a deserved equaliser.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game," Omer began. "We’ve come off the back of two defeats that we felt were harsh, because there were a lot of positives in those games.
"Coming into a derby, the passion, the atmosphere, being away from home, we knew we’d have to deal with all those factors and be solid with good structure. We gave them a bit too much possession in the first half, which we had to adjust in the second half.
"When we did that, we got after them a bit more, we were the better team in the second half and could have gone on to win the game."
The Bluebirds' substitutes made a great impact in the second half, with Robinson, Ollie Tanner, Rubin Colwill and Anwar El Ghazi all looking dangerous going forward.
Omer continued: “We went into half-time 1-0 down and we made sure that we got the tactics right in the second half to go and apply a bit more pressure on them. The subs were excellent when they came on and made a huge impact for us. We got a point and could have possibly got three.
"Callum is dangerous in the box when the ball comes to him like that. The ball from Ollie is a great ball to come on to and strike. He’s dangerous in those areas.
"We all love Rubin. He’s a great player and a great prospect. He’s getting to that age now where he wants more and he should want more. What is important is that whatever team is selected, those boys are ready to come on and make a difference.
“We’ve got a squad of players who have a lot of experience and some youngsters as well. Each game provides different challenges, but they’re all getting their opportunities."
New signing Jesper Daland made his City debut and was included in the starting XI, impressing with a calm performance.
“He’s such a level-headed guy," Omer added. "He’s come in this week and you can see that he soaks up information, knows the game well and we had no hesitation in bringing him in.
"He had a great debut today in and out of possession. Hopefully, he keeps progressing."