" WE NEED TO FINALLY MAKE HISTORY "
Sat Apr 20, 2013 6:38 am
' Malky Mackay says Cardiff City need to grab title history '
Hull City 0-0 Bristol City ( Cardiff City need one point at Burnley to secure Championship title)
Malky Mackay has told his Premier League bound Bluebirds to put the icing on the promotion cake by clinching the Championship title at Burnley.
Title rivals Hull slipped up with an abject 0-0 home stalemate against relegated Bristol City, meaning Mackay’s men need just a draw at Turf Moor to guarantee finishing as champions.
It would be only the third time in Cardiff City’s history that the club have won a league title and Mackay has urged his players to seize their special moment in history.
Last night’s shock result at the KC Stadium means Hull can only finish on 84 points, the tally the promoted Bluebirds already have to their name.
In effect Cardiff are already champions, because their goal difference of plus-27 is vastly superior to Hull’s plus-11.
But one more point in today’s lunchtime clash away to Burnley will guarantee the Championship trophy for the Bluebirds.
“The first aim was to get promoted and it is fantastic we got over that hurdle. Next we are desperate to win the league and put the icing on the cake,” said Mackay.
“We’ve had a chat and the focus is firmly on getting the title.
“I’ve impressed upon the players that they have been at the top of the table since November 24 and we don’t want to lose that spot at this stage of the season.
“To win the title after being promoted would be something very special.”
Hull’s only real chance against Bristol came right at the end of the match, when former Cardiff goalkeeping favourite Tom Heaton produced an excellent stop to keep out David Meyler’s shot.
City players were given Wednesday off from training following their promotion celebrations, while Mackay held a squad meeting at their Vale of Glamorgan Resort training headquarters on Thursday morning.
He was keen to ensure everybody is again focused on the remaining fixtures – against Burnley today, Bolton next Saturday and Hull.
“The lads are back on it, everything has refocused,” said Mackay. “We had a chat about the enormity of what they had done then moved onto our last three games.
“Our aim is to go out and do all we can to win all three.”
While Mackay and his coaches deal with matches to come, head of recruitment Iain Moody is leading the charge to strengthen for top flight football.
“Since the January transfer window there has been quiet work going on, looking at targets maybe further afield,” says Mackay.
“That’s something you keep in the background, going to games, talking to people and checking things out.
“It’s just about progressing the club.
“Last summer we had to tweak things, bringing the next group of players into the club and it will have to be the same again going up to the next level.
“There are fresh challenges to come.
“It’s all about what I call ‘best practice’ and it’s not always about money.
“There’s going to be a lot of work behind the scenes here to try to make the club better again.
“Major planning has to happen, but I have a great group of players and we are all looking forward to going into the next pre-season.
“They will need to come back strong and challenge me with their actions to get the jersey.
“I have a group of winners who all season have put their heart into every game and that’s not going to change.”
Mackay admits he has scarcely been able to catch his breath since the goalless draw against Charlton which made certain of promotion.
His players have returned to their usual routine over the last two days, while the squad flew from Cardiff to the Manchester area yesterday to prepare for the match.
They will then have a week before the final home league match against Bolton Wanderers.
“I told the lads before the Charlton game ‘most people can only watch history happening, but you have the chance to go out there and make it’,” added Mackay. “There are very few people who have that chance. To be fair they went out there and did it well.
“I’m so happy for them.
“Over the last few days there have been a lot of people with smiles on their faces everywhere I’ve been. It’s great to see.
“The whole city has a beaming smile. It’s lovely. Hardly anybody is talking, they are all just smiling.
“It’s been busy, but we are still preparing for the Burnley game. I will probably catch my breath at some point.
“I’ve had some lovely messages from managers across the country too. It’s nice because you realise we are all in this business together.
“There are some good people out there. They know how difficult this league can be.”
Hull City 0-0 Bristol City ( Cardiff City need one point at Burnley to secure Championship title)
Malky Mackay has told his Premier League bound Bluebirds to put the icing on the promotion cake by clinching the Championship title at Burnley.
Title rivals Hull slipped up with an abject 0-0 home stalemate against relegated Bristol City, meaning Mackay’s men need just a draw at Turf Moor to guarantee finishing as champions.
It would be only the third time in Cardiff City’s history that the club have won a league title and Mackay has urged his players to seize their special moment in history.
Last night’s shock result at the KC Stadium means Hull can only finish on 84 points, the tally the promoted Bluebirds already have to their name.
In effect Cardiff are already champions, because their goal difference of plus-27 is vastly superior to Hull’s plus-11.
But one more point in today’s lunchtime clash away to Burnley will guarantee the Championship trophy for the Bluebirds.
“The first aim was to get promoted and it is fantastic we got over that hurdle. Next we are desperate to win the league and put the icing on the cake,” said Mackay.
“We’ve had a chat and the focus is firmly on getting the title.
“I’ve impressed upon the players that they have been at the top of the table since November 24 and we don’t want to lose that spot at this stage of the season.
“To win the title after being promoted would be something very special.”
Hull’s only real chance against Bristol came right at the end of the match, when former Cardiff goalkeeping favourite Tom Heaton produced an excellent stop to keep out David Meyler’s shot.
City players were given Wednesday off from training following their promotion celebrations, while Mackay held a squad meeting at their Vale of Glamorgan Resort training headquarters on Thursday morning.
He was keen to ensure everybody is again focused on the remaining fixtures – against Burnley today, Bolton next Saturday and Hull.
“The lads are back on it, everything has refocused,” said Mackay. “We had a chat about the enormity of what they had done then moved onto our last three games.
“Our aim is to go out and do all we can to win all three.”
While Mackay and his coaches deal with matches to come, head of recruitment Iain Moody is leading the charge to strengthen for top flight football.
“Since the January transfer window there has been quiet work going on, looking at targets maybe further afield,” says Mackay.
“That’s something you keep in the background, going to games, talking to people and checking things out.
“It’s just about progressing the club.
“Last summer we had to tweak things, bringing the next group of players into the club and it will have to be the same again going up to the next level.
“There are fresh challenges to come.
“It’s all about what I call ‘best practice’ and it’s not always about money.
“There’s going to be a lot of work behind the scenes here to try to make the club better again.
“Major planning has to happen, but I have a great group of players and we are all looking forward to going into the next pre-season.
“They will need to come back strong and challenge me with their actions to get the jersey.
“I have a group of winners who all season have put their heart into every game and that’s not going to change.”
Mackay admits he has scarcely been able to catch his breath since the goalless draw against Charlton which made certain of promotion.
His players have returned to their usual routine over the last two days, while the squad flew from Cardiff to the Manchester area yesterday to prepare for the match.
They will then have a week before the final home league match against Bolton Wanderers.
“I told the lads before the Charlton game ‘most people can only watch history happening, but you have the chance to go out there and make it’,” added Mackay. “There are very few people who have that chance. To be fair they went out there and did it well.
“I’m so happy for them.
“Over the last few days there have been a lot of people with smiles on their faces everywhere I’ve been. It’s great to see.
“The whole city has a beaming smile. It’s lovely. Hardly anybody is talking, they are all just smiling.
“It’s been busy, but we are still preparing for the Burnley game. I will probably catch my breath at some point.
“I’ve had some lovely messages from managers across the country too. It’s nice because you realise we are all in this business together.
“There are some good people out there. They know how difficult this league can be.”
Re: " WE NEED TO FINALLY MAKE HISTORY "
Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:21 am
I have a very good feeling about today and I am sure the boys will do us proud wih all 3 points 
