'Cardiff manager Solskjaer & Fulham manager Felix Magath'
Sat Aug 30, 2014 11:10 pm
'Cardiff manager Solskjaer & Fulham manager Felix Magath'
Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Fulham v Cardiff City
"I think it was a fair result. First half was not the best. It was probably the worst performance we've had this season.
"Second half we upped the tempo both on and off the ball and I was very pleased with the reaction.
Solskjaer watched his side rescue a point at Craven Cottage despite a miserable first-half performance lacking in cohesion.
One bright spot, though, was the performance of young Norwegian Mats Daehli, who held his own in an intriguing battle with Fulham's veteran Scott Parker.
Parker was outstanding, directing Fulham operations from the start, while the creative Daehli was easily Cardiff City's man of the match.
"They are two different types of players, but it was a good battle between them," said Solskjaer.
"I've always been a Scott Parker fan and every footballer can learn from a player of that quality."
The experienced Parker is crucial to Fulham hopes of climbing the Championship table, while Daehli now joins the Norwegian squad for their international against England at Wembley Stadium despite hobbling off in the second-half.
Daehli is a crucial player for his country and crucial to their future as head coach Per-Mathias Hogmo rebuilds his squad.
"Mats got cramp towards the end and that's why he went off," said Solskjaer. "The pitch was spongy, a surface which drained energy. I expected players to tire and Mats did well. He hit a great pass for our equaliser."
Solskjaer will work with his players during the international break to try and improve their attacking play, saying: "We have loads of firepower and have to create chances. We didn't create enough against Fulham. We have to ensure the final cross or pass is spot on and that wasn't always the case.
"The Championship is a tough league and it's going to be tight. Nobody is going to run away with it.
"Quite a few teams are ready to challenge for the top two places and the play-offs. Half the division believe they can achieve that success.
"We knew at half-time we had to up our tempo and up our levels. We could not be happy with our first half performance.
"The players reacted in the way we wanted and a draw was the fair result."
' Fulham manager Felix Magath on Fulham v Cardiff City '
Fulham are still searching for their first Championship win, but manager Felix Magath fended off questions about his future, saying: "I am the right man for this job."
And he said defiantly: "We can still be promoted this season."
Magath's men have suffered four defeats and this was their first point, but the German said: "We were disappointed we did not score more goals in the first-half when we had good chances. We played well and should have had more.
"Our forward play is improving and we did well against a Cardiff team who are favourites to go up.
"There have been big changes here at Fulham and it's never easy in that situation. I can understand the fear of Fulham fans. Their team were relegated last season and are again near the bottom.
"That's not something I want, but it was necessary for us to start again and that's what I have done. There are a lot of young players in our squad.
"Look at the situation and what I have done for this club already. We have brought six players up from the youth Academy. I haven't done it for myself, but for the good of this club.
"Yes, I am the right man for this job. And I have no doubt we can earn promotion this season.
"We are going to bring in two or three players before the transfer window closes and then the situation will look different."
"I can understand the fans who are afraid about the situation.
"Last year we came down and now at the beginning we are down again near the bottom, so I can understand the fear of fans.
"I am not happy about this but we have a new situation. It was necessary for this club to start again from the beginning and that is what I've done.
"I know I have a lot of young players and I know that is a problem. I have known that before and I live with this problem.
"I am ready to do it and I am the right man for this. No-one else, I am the only one. Not the special one, I'm the only one."
Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Fulham v Cardiff City
"I think it was a fair result. First half was not the best. It was probably the worst performance we've had this season.
"Second half we upped the tempo both on and off the ball and I was very pleased with the reaction.
Solskjaer watched his side rescue a point at Craven Cottage despite a miserable first-half performance lacking in cohesion.
One bright spot, though, was the performance of young Norwegian Mats Daehli, who held his own in an intriguing battle with Fulham's veteran Scott Parker.
Parker was outstanding, directing Fulham operations from the start, while the creative Daehli was easily Cardiff City's man of the match.
"They are two different types of players, but it was a good battle between them," said Solskjaer.
"I've always been a Scott Parker fan and every footballer can learn from a player of that quality."
The experienced Parker is crucial to Fulham hopes of climbing the Championship table, while Daehli now joins the Norwegian squad for their international against England at Wembley Stadium despite hobbling off in the second-half.
Daehli is a crucial player for his country and crucial to their future as head coach Per-Mathias Hogmo rebuilds his squad.
"Mats got cramp towards the end and that's why he went off," said Solskjaer. "The pitch was spongy, a surface which drained energy. I expected players to tire and Mats did well. He hit a great pass for our equaliser."
Solskjaer will work with his players during the international break to try and improve their attacking play, saying: "We have loads of firepower and have to create chances. We didn't create enough against Fulham. We have to ensure the final cross or pass is spot on and that wasn't always the case.
"The Championship is a tough league and it's going to be tight. Nobody is going to run away with it.
"Quite a few teams are ready to challenge for the top two places and the play-offs. Half the division believe they can achieve that success.
"We knew at half-time we had to up our tempo and up our levels. We could not be happy with our first half performance.
"The players reacted in the way we wanted and a draw was the fair result."
' Fulham manager Felix Magath on Fulham v Cardiff City '
Fulham are still searching for their first Championship win, but manager Felix Magath fended off questions about his future, saying: "I am the right man for this job."
And he said defiantly: "We can still be promoted this season."
Magath's men have suffered four defeats and this was their first point, but the German said: "We were disappointed we did not score more goals in the first-half when we had good chances. We played well and should have had more.
"Our forward play is improving and we did well against a Cardiff team who are favourites to go up.
"There have been big changes here at Fulham and it's never easy in that situation. I can understand the fear of Fulham fans. Their team were relegated last season and are again near the bottom.
"That's not something I want, but it was necessary for us to start again and that's what I have done. There are a lot of young players in our squad.
"Look at the situation and what I have done for this club already. We have brought six players up from the youth Academy. I haven't done it for myself, but for the good of this club.
"Yes, I am the right man for this job. And I have no doubt we can earn promotion this season.
"We are going to bring in two or three players before the transfer window closes and then the situation will look different."
"I can understand the fans who are afraid about the situation.
"Last year we came down and now at the beginning we are down again near the bottom, so I can understand the fear of fans.
"I am not happy about this but we have a new situation. It was necessary for this club to start again from the beginning and that is what I've done.
"I know I have a lot of young players and I know that is a problem. I have known that before and I live with this problem.
"I am ready to do it and I am the right man for this. No-one else, I am the only one. Not the special one, I'm the only one."
Re: 'Cardiff manager Solskjaer & Fulham manager Felix Magath
Sun Aug 31, 2014 12:55 pm
Two very poor managers.