CITY DEFENDER: "IT WOULD BE HARD TO SAY NO TO OLD CLUB"

Cardiff defender admits it would be ‘really hard’ to say no to former club, ‘a lot of regrets’ this season

By Tom Coast (1st May 2019)


Currently 18th in the Premier League, four points behind Brighton with just two games to go, Cardiff City’s season appears to be heading towards the club returning to the Championship next season.

Neil Warnock’s side have won just one game from their previous five, form which doesn’t suggest they will overturn their deficit, especially with games against Crystal Palace and Manchester United on the horizon.

This doom and gloom has spread throughout the squad, as shown by Bruno Ecuele Manga, who, in an interview with Girondins4Ever, admitted things are rather tough.


He said: “Honestly, it’s going to be very, very complicated. All [Brighton] need is a point, and that’s us done. We’re really disappointed because when you look at the team we have, the players we have, and the efforts we’ve put in this season… Honestly, there’s a lot of regrets”.


As for what the future holds for the Gabon international going forward, it’s not something he’s thinking about just yet, even if he knows it’s a subject that will need to be addressed in the near future.

He explained: “At the end of the season, I’ll have a year left on my contract. I don’t know… For me, really, no lies, the most important are the two remaining games. We need to finish the season well, and we’ll see what can happen next season. Why not return to Bordeaux (laughs)? No, I’m joking”.


Pressed on that quip by the Ligue 1 club’s fan website, Ecuele Manga went on to admit it would be ‘really hard’ for him to say no to Bordeaux, the club where his professional career started.

There haven’t been rumours about this potential move yet, but if/when Cardiff get relegated, things could move quickly.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Reading this, it appears Bruno was initially joking and was then pushed into an answer

But, as is football, it is an indicator of the kind of stuff we can expect in the coming weeks/months and how quickly things can develop as either fact or manufactured gossip

Whether Brighton get another point or not is irrelevant to us. No points or a single point and we need to win both games. He's had a good season, by far his best since he's been with us and I would love to keep him for next year. He needs to be more aware though. His hand should have been up before the ball even got to Azpilicueta in the Chelsea game.

Whether Brighton get another point or not is irrelevant to us. No points or a single point and we need to win both games. He's had a good season, by far his best since he's been with us and I would love to keep him for next year. He needs to be more aware though. His hand should have been up before the ball even got to Azpilicueta in the Chelsea game.

If the linesman and ref didn't see the offside they won't give it despite him waving arms, legs, toes, shouting or even dancing.

Amazed your trying to pin that on him. Do you really think refs and linesman give an offside because a players got his arms up.

Whether Brighton get another point or not is irrelevant to us. No points or a single point and we need to win both games. He's had a good season, by far his best since he's been with us and I would love to keep him for next year. He needs to be more aware though. His hand should have been up before the ball even got to Azpilicueta in the Chelsea game.

Agreed, Brighton would need to get 2 draws (because of their goal difference) or a win in their last 2 games (Arsenal and Man City) to make it impossible for us. Otherwise, 2 wins for us does it. It won't happen but a draw for Brighton would still mean it goes to the last game if we beat Palace.

As for Bruno, I think he may well get a better offer. Watching him handle Sala, Higuaine, Jesus just showed that he can operate at Prem level.

I've argued all year that he was our best centre back and it should have been him with either Morrison or Bamba as first choice pairing. It would have been interesting to see what effect that would have had on our season. I may be wrong but I would suggest that at least our goal difference would have looked more healthy

Whether Brighton get another point or not is irrelevant to us. No points or a single point and we need to win both games. He's had a good season, by far his best since he's been with us and I would love to keep him for next year. He needs to be more aware though. His hand should have been up before the ball even got to Azpilicueta in the Chelsea game.

If the linesman and ref didn't see the offside they won't give it despite him waving arms, legs, toes, shouting or even dancing.

Amazed your trying to pin that on him. Do you really think refs and linesman give an offside because a players got his arms up.

I don't think he did (try to 'pin' it on him) but the point that Bruno does require better situational awareness at times is a valid one

Whether Brighton get another point or not is irrelevant to us. No points or a single point and we need to win both games. He's had a good season, by far his best since he's been with us and I would love to keep him for next year. He needs to be more aware though. His hand should have been up before the ball even got to Azpilicueta in the Chelsea game.

If the linesman and ref didn't see the offside they won't give it despite him waving arms, legs, toes, shouting or even dancing.

Amazed your trying to pin that on him. Do you really think refs and linesman give an offside because a players got his arms up.

No one is blaming Bruno but he has a point. I believe it was our lack of protest and no flag from the linesman which led the referee to believe it must have been onside despite possibly thinking it was off. If we had protested he probably would have had a chat with the linesman who would have mentioned his view was blocked and he may have gone with his gut instinct and disallowed it. I cant imagine David Luiz would have so meekly accepted it if it had been at the other end, and look what happened when Burnley surrounded the ref. If we had taken three points we would probably be looking at beating Palace to stay up.

at the end of the season I will have a year left on my contract..

Cardiff defender admits it would be ‘really hard’ to say no to former club, ‘a lot of regrets’ this season


Thursday 2nd My 2019


Currently 18th in the Premier League, four points behind Brighton with just two games to go, Cardiff City’s season appears to be heading towards the club returning to the Championship next season.

Neil Warnock’s side have won just one game from their previous five, form which doesn’t suggest they will overturn their deficit, especially with games against Crystal Palace and Manchester United on the horizon.

This doom and gloom has spread throughout the squad, as shown by Bruno Ecuele Manga, who, in an interview with Girondins4Ever, admitted things are rather tough.

He said: “Honestly, it’s going to be very, very complicated. All [Brighton] need is a point, and that’s us done. We’re really disappointed because when you look at the team we have, the players we have, and the efforts we’ve put in this season… Honestly, there’s a lot of regrets”.

As for what the future holds for the Gabon international going forward, it’s not something he’s thinking about just yet, even if he knows it’s a subject that will need to be addressed in the near future.

He explained: “At the end of the season, I’ll have a year left on my contract. I don’t know… For me, really, no lies, the most important are the two remaining games. We need to finish the season well, and we’ll see what can happen next season. Why not return to Bordeaux (laughs)? No, I’m joking”.

Pressed on that quip by the Ligue 1 club’s fan website, Ecuele Manga went on to admit it would be ‘really hard’ for him to say no to Bordeaux, the club where his professional career started.

There haven’t been rumours about this potential move yet, but if/when Cardiff get relegated, things could move quickly.

In his defending duties he is one of the best his game completely lets him down on his distribution which is dire. He is just a hit and hope it goes to one of his team mates. If he sorted that side of his game he would be a top six player. That is my view.

Now would probably be the time to sell with a year left on his contract and a pretty good season in the prem. Use it and reinvest in someone a bit younger.