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Cardiff City star reveals what really surprised him about relegation and the moment he 'collapsed'
Cardiff City star reveals what really surprised him about relegation and the moment he 'collapsed'
The defender spoke about his time at the club ahead of his departure
Dimitrios Goutas of Cardiff City celebrates scoring his team's third goal against Swansea
(Image: Getty Images )
Departing Cardiff City star Dimitrios Goutas has opened up on his time in the Welsh capital and the disappointment he felt over suffering relegation in his final season at the club.
Goutas was signed by Erol Bulut during the Turkish manager's first summer with the Bluebirds. Bulut had intimate knowledge of Goutas, who previously played in Turkey with Sivasspor. He quickly became a nailed-on first choice at centre-back, growing a partnership with Mark McGuinness and becoming a fan favourite, too.
However, it wasn't all plain sailing for the Greece international. He endured spells of poor form and was left out of the team for his final months of the season after his performances dipped.
In a wide-ranging interview with Sport24, translated on X by @MouzS13, Goutas spoke about his transition to the Championship and the eye-opening physicality it brought.
Goutas' time at Cardiff started with a trip away to Leeds, a thrilling game which saw City go two goals ahead before succumbing to a stoppage-time equaliser. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community
One moment in that Elland Road clash stood out to him and made him realise the stern task that was to face him during his two seasons with the club.
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"Think about the level," he added. "In the first season in the division it was Leicester, Southampton, Leeds. Insane level, Premier League teams. It was fire. Nothing scared me. Not even when I realized that it would actually be different.
"And that happened right away. I was playing in my first match, at Leeds. We were leading 2-0 at half-time. I was fine. The second half starts, a corner kick, I take a step back to make a jump, the opponent comes, hits me in the head, knocks me down.
"I get up and immediately think about protesting. Everything we're used to. But I turn around and see that none of my team-mates are around to support me. They're gone, they're not even paying attention to the situation.
"And then I realize... 'Dimitris, welcome. Now join the dance and dance like they dance here'.
"From that moment on. From the first game. And I was lucky that it happened that way. I continued, I accepted it and from then on, in everything, in training, in games, in my daily life, in my mindset, I adapted straight away."
The relentlessness of the Championship finally caught up with Goutas, and Cardiff, for that matter, as they suffered relegation to League One.
It had been coming for some time, fans were worried since Christmas, but in truth they had been worried for a couple of years, with many braced for the inevitable. However, in a telling statement, Goutas, who will leave the club this month upon the expiry of his deal, said he was surprised by how the club ultimately ebbed towards the drop.
"What was the problem? Maybe we were too relaxed. And not just us on the field. Everyone around the team, even the fans. No pressure, no disapproval," he said of relegation.
"You see, in the game where we were relegated mathematically, I expected that when I left, things would be very difficult. But there were 100 people and they were waiting patiently, kindly, for autographs.
"We fell and yet we had a sponsored night to recognize the best player of the season. The whole atmosphere had nothing to do with Greece or even Turkey.
"Here (Greece), you know. Chaos, swearing, not being able to go out on the street. There, a completely different environment. It might have only been like that in our group. I am not sure.
"In general, the way everyone was treated and approached, didn't make you feel like 'Wake up, we're going down!' I don't know if we would have stayed in the division if I had stayed in the team. I think it was a cycle that closed anyway."
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Many attributed Goutas' declining form to the exit of his close friend and compatriot, Manolis Siopis, in January. And he admitted that there certainly was some truth in that school of thought. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
"He was a huge help when I was in Cardiff," he said of the midfielder. "He has a way of decompressing those around him, of making them relax. And I told him that when he left. I would collapse without him being here.
"And I collapsed. I didn't have a person to shout to, to have fun with, to vent to. It was a big deal for me. And yes, he keeps telling me that it's time to come back."
