' Gary Medel '

Cardiff City star Gary Medel opens up on his toughest battles and desire to repay Malky Mackay's faith
24 Dec 2013
The Chilian, who was used to keeping possession in Sapin, is having to chase it at the Bluebirds


Gary Medel has spoken about the biggest change he has found since joining Cardiff City – having to chase possession rather than being in control of it.

Chilean international Medel, City’s £9.5m club record signing, was used to seeing a lot of the ball playing for Argentinian club Boca Juniors and Seville in Spain.

Now he has to go hunting for it...though the combative hustler, who has become a firm fan’s favourite, isn’t complaining.

“Cardiff City play a different system then I was used to at Boca or Seville,” said Medel.

“They both had plenty of possession and pass the ball more often.

“We play in a counter-attacking style at Cardiff and we’ve done pretty well so far.

“Malky Mackay brought me to Cardiff and I am doing all I can to repay his confidence in me.

“In the beginning Cardiff were trying to adapt in a new division and we have been doing that.

“It’s important to me that I play well for Cardiff and that is nothing to do with the fee paid for me.

“I train hard to make sure I can deliver, but that is not to do with the money, that’s just the way I am.

“Premier League football is highly competitive. It’s not like some where only two or three clubs and competing for the top positions. Here you can win a couple and be third - or lose one and drop.

“It’s highly competitive and I enjoy that.”



Santiago-born Medel, 26, played a key role for Chile as they qualified for the World Cup finals in Brazil next year, but he was at centre-half when they won against England at Wembley Stadium.

Now his ambition is to help Cardiff stay in the Premier League and says he has settled in South Wales.

Medel is taking language lessons at Cardiff and Vale College to improve his English, while first team fitness coach Martyn Pert, who speaks fluent Spanish, helps him communicate with Mackay.

“I am adapting to life in Cardiff,” said Medel, speaking to pupils at the college.

“My brother and my girlfriend are here with me and it’s going well.

“My team-mates made me feel welcome from the start and the supporters have really helped me as well. I hope I can live up to expectations over the season.

“That is really important to me.

“Cardiff is a lovely city and everybody seems to go out of their way to make me welcome. It’s also very cold.

“I do miss the food and the weather in Seville, but I have found the people are just as nice in both cities.”


Medel is one of four players - along with Steven Caulker, Ben Turner and Peter Whittingham - who have played in all 17 Premier League matches for Cardiff this season.

He picks out Wayne Rooney and Aaron Ramsey as the most difficult players he has faced this season. Medel has faced Rooney twice, once for Chile at Wembley and again in Cardiff’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United.

“They were the toughest to play against,” said Medel. “I earned a draw against Rooney, but lost against Ramsey.

“There will be more tough battles ahead.

Medel is certain to start against Southampton at Cardiff City Stadium on Boxing Day when the only change is unlikely to be in attack with Fraizer Campbell pressing for a recall.

Campbell could step in for Peter Odemwingie, while Danish centre-forward Andreas Cornelius is pressing for a full debut.

Mackay could go for a more attacking look against a Southampton team who have been struggling defensively, conceding 13 goals and failing to win in their last six matches. But he can’t fit Cornelius into the starting line-up without changing the playing system.

Cardiff City (probable): ?David Marshall, Kevin Theophile, Steven Caulker (capt), Ben Turner, Andrew Taylor, Gary Medel, Peter Whittingham, Aron Gunnarsson, Craig Noone, Jordon Mutch, Fraizer Campbell.

"Cardiff play in a different style than I am used to".

No shit

"Cardiff play in a different style than I am used to".

No shit

"Cardiff play in a different style than I am used to".

Yeah it's called 'hoofball'

"Cardiff play in a different style than I am used to".

No shit

He has to chase the ball all the time because whitts keeps giving it away and it gets hoofed down the pitch

I spoke to some Chilean football fans recently and they had some interesting things to say about Medel's tough upbringing in Santiago, and how that is reflected in his style of play now.

http://bit.ly/1a1J7Ye

Cardiff City star Gary Medel opens up on his toughest battles and desire to repay Malky Mackay's faith
24 Dec 2013
The Chilian, who was used to keeping possession in Sapin, is having to chase it at the Bluebirds


Gary Medel has spoken about the biggest change he has found since joining Cardiff City – having to chase possession rather than being in control of it.

Chilean international Medel, City’s £9.5m club record signing, was used to seeing a lot of the ball playing for Argentinian club Boca Juniors and Seville in Spain.

Now he has to go hunting for it...though the combative hustler, who has become a firm fan’s favourite, isn’t complaining.

“Cardiff City play a different system then I was used to at Boca or Seville,” said Medel.

“They both had plenty of possession and pass the ball more often.

“We play in a counter-attacking style at Cardiff and we’ve done pretty well so far.

“Malky Mackay brought me to Cardiff and I am doing all I can to repay his confidence in me.

“In the beginning Cardiff were trying to adapt in a new division and we have been doing that.

“It’s important to me that I play well for Cardiff and that is nothing to do with the fee paid for me.

“I train hard to make sure I can deliver, but that is not to do with the money, that’s just the way I am.

“Premier League football is highly competitive. It’s not like some where only two or three clubs and competing for the top positions. Here you can win a couple and be third - or lose one and drop.

“It’s highly competitive and I enjoy that.”



Santiago-born Medel, 26, played a key role for Chile as they qualified for the World Cup finals in Brazil next year, but he was at centre-half when they won against England at Wembley Stadium.

Now his ambition is to help Cardiff stay in the Premier League and says he has settled in South Wales.

Medel is taking language lessons at Cardiff and Vale College to improve his English, while first team fitness coach Martyn Pert, who speaks fluent Spanish, helps him communicate with Mackay.

“I am adapting to life in Cardiff,” said Medel, speaking to pupils at the college.

“My brother and my girlfriend are here with me and it’s going well.

“My team-mates made me feel welcome from the start and the supporters have really helped me as well. I hope I can live up to expectations over the season.

“That is really important to me.

“Cardiff is a lovely city and everybody seems to go out of their way to make me welcome. It’s also very cold.

“I do miss the food and the weather in Seville, but I have found the people are just as nice in both cities.”


Medel is one of four players - along with Steven Caulker, Ben Turner and Peter Whittingham - who have played in all 17 Premier League matches for Cardiff this season.

He picks out Wayne Rooney and Aaron Ramsey as the most difficult players he has faced this season. Medel has faced Rooney twice, once for Chile at Wembley and again in Cardiff’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United.

“They were the toughest to play against,” said Medel. “I earned a draw against Rooney, but lost against Ramsey.

“There will be more tough battles ahead.

Medel is certain to start against Southampton at Cardiff City Stadium on Boxing Day when the only change is unlikely to be in attack with Fraizer Campbell pressing for a recall.

Campbell could step in for Peter Odemwingie, while Danish centre-forward Andreas Cornelius is pressing for a full debut.

Mackay could go for a more attacking look against a Southampton team who have been struggling defensively, conceding 13 goals and failing to win in their last six matches. But he can’t fit Cornelius into the starting line-up without changing the playing system.

Cardiff City (probable): ?David Marshall, Kevin Theophile, Steven Caulker (capt), Ben Turner, Andrew Taylor, Gary Medel, Peter Whittingham, Aron Gunnarsson, Craig Noone, Jordon Mutch, Fraizer Campbell.

hes a quick learner - look at that interview he could hardly speak english a few weeks ago !

Allowed and watched that palace guy chamechk? to stroll onto the edge of the box with enough time to control the ball on his chest and pick a spot in the corner, and also was nowhere near Suarez (I know he's prob best player in league right now but still) who was unmarked on the edge of the box.

You have to wonder why he spent all that money on Kim Mutch Noone and Medel if he just wants to by pass all of them with a Turner DIAG.....

I spoke to some Chilean football fans recently and they had some interesting things to say about Medel's tough upbringing in Santiago, and how that is reflected in his style of play now.

http://bit.ly/1a1J7Ye

Confused by that. He had a tough upbringing so he plays a certain style of Football?