Riza Warns of “Big Problems” for Cardiff City Without Reaction

Omer Riza, who previously coached Watford and joined Cardiff City’s coaching staff this summer, has stated that the club will encounter “big problems” unless there is a response to their poor showing against Preston North End. This comes after Wednesday’s 2-0 home defeat to Preston North End, a team that had not secured a victory in 10 matches prior to their visit to Wales, leaving The Bluebirds in the Championship relegation zone. The match marked the club’s initial fixture since Riza’s appointment as manager on a contract extending until the season’s conclusion, and it saw them deliver what is considered their poorest performance in what has already been a challenging campaign. Riza has committed to implementing changes for Saturday’s match against Stoke City, following a performance he characterized as “nowhere near the levels we need.” He stated, “I won’t tolerate those sorts of performances from players, as a team or individuals. Things have got to change for the Stoke game.” Riza continued, “If you don’t do things properly, you get beaten. Before we talk about anything else, we have got to get that right again.” He emphasized, “There has to be a reaction. There is no other way. If there is not a reaction, then there are going to be big problems.” Riza had been appointed interim Cardiff boss in September, following the dismissal of Erol Bulut, who was sacked after securing only one point from the initial six games of the season. The former Watford coach began his tenure impressively, accumulating 14 points from his first seven matches; however, Cardiff’s performance has since declined significantly. Last week, Riza received a permanent contract, though it is set to expire next summer, even amidst a streak of five games without a victory. Any optimism that increased stability in Cardiff’s managerial position would lead to improved on-field results was dispelled as they suffered a defeat against Preston. Riza further commented, “That’s not my team. I don’t like that sort of behaviour, I don’t like it when we don’t work, I don’t like it when we don’t fight, I don’t like it when we haven’t got desire, I don’t like it when the opposition beat us like that – they beat us down.” He also noted, “[It was] very flat from us. We didn’t play at the weekend. We trained Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, so it’s not like they had days off.” Riza concluded on this point, “We applied what we needed to do but the boys, they have got to look at themselves and I don’t usually say that.” During the Preston defeat, which marked their third consecutive home loss, some Cardiff supporters chanted “Riza, sort it out,” and boos were heard at the final whistle. Riza acknowledged, “It was disappointing to hear the boos, disappointing to hear the frustrations and I join them in that as well.” He elaborated, “Sometimes it’s not tactics, it’s not systems, it’s desire, it’s quality. That’s what we are going to be looking for – energy to want to play, intensity to want to play.”