Riza offloads as pressure builds on Cardiff boss

BBC News

13-03-2025

Cardiff City manager Omer Riza says he takes "full responsibility" for the Bluebirds' struggles.Cardiff dropped to 21st in the Championship in midweek by suffering a third-straight defeat, against Luton Town.Wins for Derby County and Plymouth Argyle have dragged Cardiff within a point of the relegation zone, as they have been since 1 January.With pressure at an all-time high for Riza, the Cardiff boss started Thursday's press conference with an unprompted, but impassioned seven-minute speech."Anything that happens at the club in respect of our performances on the pitch, the decisions players make in terms of tactics and player positioning is all on me," began Riza."
"I take responsibility for my team, whether it's results, whether it's tactics. I think that's important because sometimes when I do press calls or I do things after games, I don't ever want it to sound like I'm blaming my players."My players and I, and my staff, we are all one. I think it's really important that everyone understands that. "I'll always take full responsibility for my teams wherever I'm at."
Riza continued by addressing complaints about playing certain players out of position."We play players in positions we feel can do the job," said Riza."You've got to understand the game and you've got to understand it tactically. You've got to understand strategical things in the game in respect of player positioning."I think we've been very successful with Callum Chambers. He's moved into midfield and he's probably been one of our best midfielders this year."Andy Rinomhota was a player that was a bit a of a nomad if you like. He's done excellent this year. He's played right-back and he's played central midfield."There's always positives with negatives. Sometimes players play in a position and don't do well. It can happen."Riza also spoke about the recruitment of the club and communication with the board and owner Vincent Tan, with whom he said he has a "very good" relationship.He concluded: "I'm a man of honesty, integrity and hard work, and that will never change."Whether I'm here today or whether I'm here tomorrow, I'll talk honestly and I think that's just important to say."
Riza 'open to talking to fans'
Cardiff fans voiced their frustrations at the end of Tuesday's defeat, as loud boos echoed around Cardiff City Stadium at full time.A number of fans have posted on social media about interactions with Riza, who said he always tries to find time to speak to supporters."For me, we're all human at the end of the day," said Riza."People ask questions, whether they are fans or not. If they ask a question and I have time to answer it, I will answer it."If they don't understand it I will explain it to them, I think it is important as a human."If it is not nice I'll just say, 'Thank you for that, ask me in a different way next time and you may get an answer'."The fans want to be part of everything and know what is going on. Hopefully they see that I like to have time for them as well."Riza and Cardiff have nine games left in their battle, starting with a trip to Ewood Park on Saturday to take on Blackburn Rovers."It goes deeper than tactics now," said Riza. "It's the will to win and the mentality to win and what you have to do in order to do that."Our mindset has to be different, that's the biggest thing of all. "We've spoken about the squad, it's a good squad with good players, but the league doesn't lie."The players that we have and the staff that we have all have to do better to make sure we aren't where we are."