Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock fumes at Iceland manager again
By Chris Wathan
Saturday 6th May 2017
Neil Warnock has fired a warning to Aron Gunnarsson's national manager after claiming the man from Iceland is in danger of burning out.
Warnock has already exchanged words with Heimir Hallgrimsson this season over the treatment of midfielder Gunarsson.
And now he's on a collision course with the Iceland boss after revealing the Bluebirds' player of the year has been told he has to report for training THREE WEEKS before a June World Cup qualifier.
Gunnarsson, 28, has been in superb form for Cardiff and has revelled in his role under Warnock, leading him to be named supporters' and player's player of the year at the club's recent awards night.
The honours came after a marathon season, starting with an incredible summer where he captained his homeland into the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, shocking the world with a win to knock out England along the way.
But Gunnarsson has been told he has no chance of a rest just yet after being informed he has to report for a Iceland training camp weeks ahead of a June 11 qualifier with Croatia.
And an angry Warrnock said: “They want him for three weeks. I don't legally think they can do it but Aron's not going to say no because he's the captain.
“But it's no good going in three weeks doing 40 minute runs every day when he doesn't need it, he needs to have a swim and a game of golf. By all means ten days before the game do some stepping up, but they've got to understand everything doesn't revolve around this game.
“They could do long-term damage to him if they're not careful.”
Gunnarsson admitted recently he is feeling the strain having seen only Bluebirds skipper Sean Morrison play more minutes this term, saying: "After Warnock came in, he gave me a lot of responsibility, I played a lot of minutes and I tried to give everything I've got in every game.
"I'm quite tired now and I'm feeling it towards the end of the season, but I always try to be consistent in how I play and work as hard as I possibly can for the team.”
Warnock is likely to rest Gunnarsson for Sunday's final game of the season as the Bluebirds travel to Yorkshire to take on Huddersfield, the veteran manager saying he's prepared to make changes and give games to fringe players.
But he is preparing to make a call to Hallgrimsson after being left fuming by the pressures on Gunnarsson.
Warnock added: “I've had a chat with Aron because I'm not happy about it. Our fitness guy has been talking to their chap and talking about what they want to do, but we don't think that Aron should be doing what they are talking about doing three weeks before a game – we think he should be resting.
“We will have to see if it needs a phonecall to the manager from myself because at this time of the season, he's not going to get any fitter. He shouldn't be doing things they are suggesting they are going to do. Aron's on board with that.”
It's not the first time Warnock has vented his frustration with the Iceland boss who will be keen for his star players – including Swansea City's Gylfi Sigurdsson – to be in peak condition when they take on Croatia. Iceland are three points behind their opponents in their group and the game could prove pivotal as the sides chase a qualifying berth for the 2018 World Cup.
Gunnarsson and Sigurdsson both played a March qualifier against Kosovo, but while Sigurdsson and others were spared a friendly with the Republic of Ireland, Gunnarsson played as captain.
The 70-cap international looked sluggish as Cardiff were beaten at Wolves on the Saturday, leaving Warnock branding the decision to play him in both games “a disgrace” and saying: “I’ve told the manager that. He’s tired out today and you’ve got to have some brains when you’re an international manager.”
And Warnock is concerned Gunnarsson will suffer if he is worked too hard while in camp, adding: “He was tired out when he came back last time from playing the waste of time friendly, but he can't say no because he's the captain. He was then a waste of time for us on the Saturday against Wolves. That's when the manager has got to look at it.
“He's apologised to me about it but it's no good apologising and then doing the same thing. He's got to learn. I know they've got a difficult job but he's got on board what the expectations are from people at our level of football. It's got to be both ways.”
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