CRAIG BELLAMY: This is a privilege

Craig Bellamy spoke to press on Friday morning ahead of City’s Saturday clash with Ipswich Town.

And City’s talisman spoke of the pleasure he felt in seeing City top of the Championship – but warned against complacency in the toughest of divisions.

“It’s always good to be top, but this lead can be taken off you in a week in this league,” said Craig. “It’s important we take things a game at a time – I know I’m using clichés but this group of players will do that. Against Ipswich tomorrow we’ll have to work as hard as we have done over the last four or five games – saying that, we have kept that standard all season. If we do that tomorrow we’ll give ourselves another good chance of getting three points again.

“When I came back my goal was just to try and win every game and just see where it takes us. The best thing about this group of players is that they have that mindset already. I feel really privileged and honoured every day that I come into this club to play with this group, I really do. Training is exceptional - credit to the staff and manager as well, they’ve got a real group of players who just want to excel themselves. I still want to do that and I’m thirty-three! If we’re good enough, we’re good enough, and if we’re not, there’s going to have to be one or two teams that will have worked extremely hard to overtake us.

“You have to be able to dig in – when you have four games in quick succession, your work rate will get you through games. We’ve gotten through a tough period just due to sheer tenacity and work rate for each other. I believe there’s a strong affection between the team and the supporters – the supporters realise what we’re trying to do week in, week out – and that’s a connection that I’ve probably not witnessed from most clubs."

And in reference to his own form and fitness, Craig added: “I played in the Olympics in July, where the schedule was much harder. Two years ago I was told that if I could be kept fit by not playing two games a week and that’s what I did. My problem has been my hamstrings, not my knees – the intensity at which I play means I do overload my hamstrings quite a lot so it’s no coincidence that I’ve had eight or nine hamstring tears in my career which is not ideal for an player like myself. This season I had a particularly bad ankle injury but due to the physios here I was very lucky to be playing within a month. It was a bit sore during the first couple of games, which I expected due to the speed that I came back at, but I knew this Christmas period would get me up to speed.

“Two years ago I think I put too much pressure on myself to get this club promoted. I’d go home and not socialise. This year, though, I’m miles happier than I’ve ever been. I feel like I can come in every day to a club that is really trying to do something right. Cardiff City Football Club is probably in the best state that it’s been in for a number of years."

City's number 39 also had special praise for City's striking stable, continuing: “Heidar (Helguson) is thirty-five and he’s doing well through this busy period too. Rudy (Gestede) and Joe (Mason) have both come in and done fantastic jobs. We defend from the front – I try to make the opposition play direct and cross the ball into the area, because our centre-backs will eat those up all day long. Our defence has been exceptional.

"You can see the manager's work ethic rubbing off on the team. I was lucky to train with him and see his attitude as a player, and he’s brought that into management. I feel we have one of the most up-and-coming and exciting managers in football at the moment.”

Source: http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/art ... l#anchored

Thanks for posting

Top Man Bellers Like the way he says "This group of players" - shows how well MM has done to gel this squad together.

Top Man Bellers Like the way he says "This group of players" - shows how well MM has done to gel this squad together.

Yes Tony agree 100%

Top Man Bellers Like the way he says "This group of players" - shows how well MM has done to gel this squad together.

I watched the interview on player Tony and it was very well conducted by Bellamy so I thought I would post on here the dialogue to it so everyone who don't have player can read what he had to say.

:ayatollah: Thanks for posting

No problem Lee

Top Man Bellers Like the way he says "This group of players" - shows how well MM has done to gel this squad together.

I watched the interview on player Tony and it was very well conducted by Bellamy so I thought I would post on here the dialogue to it so everyone who don't have player can read what he had to say.

Cheers Steve

Top Man Bellers Like the way he says "This group of players" - shows how well MM has done to gel this squad together.

Yes Tony agree 100%

Fair play to Bellamy hope he continues the hard work he for me has been brilliant dont think I have ever seen a player work so hard in his position for the club I love watching him play football may be its cos he is from Cardiff that he puts that bit extra in and long may it continue just brilliant.

What he said about are squad of players says it all they have been brilliant aswell but Bellamy is the stand out player ,

Watched it on player cracking interview

Fair play that interview got me pumped up for tomorrow

I would like to point out though, that our lead won't be taken away in a week though

Otherwise, top interview. Bellamy has been immense,and hopefully will get better too

Can u imagine Bellers making that speech in the dressing room,you would run through a brick wall for the team

I would like to point out though, that our lead won't be taken away in a week though

Otherwise, top interview. Bellamy has been immense,and hopefully will get better too

yes I was thinking that Craig

Nice one Steve !! Blue Army

Reading that makes me proud to call City my team. Bellers is a legend

Nice one Steve !! Blue Army

No problem chief

Well he certainly answered some of the questions that have been asked on this forum this week.

If we don't get promoted......we go again next season,

I'll change colour again for that sort of backing.

Tan and VT have done wonders for our club.

Well played son.

I praise him and Heidar Helguson.

Heidar Helguson might not be the best but he does well with a very class team around him and he has pinched 7 or 8 goals.

Heidar is 35 and to play week in week out in this division is quite something and his work rate is the best I've seen from some players.

Him and Bellamy do fantastic for their age.

Bellamy also said that Vincent Tan and TG were "a godsend to this Football Club and we're lucky to have them."

Bellers always gives the best interviews. There's no other player really like him that's so honest in their answers!