Derby boss Phillip Cocu takes dig at Cardiff City & Reveals

Derby County boss Phillip Cocu takes dig at Cardiff City and reveals the big decision that left him fuming

The Dutchman has become the latest to criticise Cardiff City's style of football under Neil Warnock



Monday 16th September 2019




Derby County manager Phillip Cocu has become the latest to comment on Cardiff's style of football



Derby County boss Phillip Cocu says he was pleased by how his side matched up to a team that "doesn't really want to play" in Cardiff City on Friday night.

The Bluebirds emerged from Pride Park with a point after Robert Glatzel's first-half penalty cancelled out Scott Malone's early opener.

It was a game unlikely to have left many neutrals on the edge of their seats, with Cardiff still searching for a first away win of the new campaign.

However, Rams boss Cocu insists he was happy by the way in which his side stood up to the visitors, and seemingly couldn't resist taking a dig at at Cardiff's direct approach, which is clearly continuing to ruffle feathers.

"We had to deal with a team who doesn’t really want to play," he told Rams TV after the game.

"They are extremely direct, so we have to be physical. I told the boys after the game that I’m proud of the way we fought them and how we tried to play as much as possible to get the ball down.

"We created good chances and showed a good reaction after the Brentford game."


The Dutchman is the latest high-profile figure to comment on Cardiff's style of football under Neil Warnock, an approach that drove Cardiff's promotion to the Premier League two years ago.

Former West Ham boss Sam Allardyce recently leaped to the defence of the Yorkshireman following comments made by Echo columnist Nathan Blake. You can read the Cardiff legend's view on it all here .

Meanwhile, although he was pleased with how his side coped with the physicality of the Bluebirds, Cocu was left convinced his side should have had a penalty shortly before Glatzel's own spot-kick.

"I think the decisions, major decisions, decided the course of the game," he continued.

"It’s hard to take at the moment because we started the match really well and scores early.


"We had good energy in the team and I think the penalty decision on Martyn Waghorn was clear.

"It should have been a penalty, which would have given us the chance to go 2-0 up.

"Instead, we had a penalty against us a few minutes later. I felt there was a handball in the build-up so it’s hard to take at the moment and especially for the players and fans."

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Just seems like sour grapes from a chap that know's he can't deliver the same as his predecessor.

Nevermind ey.

He should remain silent until he is managing in the Premier with Derby

He’s just stating the bleeding obvious..there’s no dig, we can’t/ dont play football.

We don't play HIS idea of football, we play Neil Warnock's. How dare we give him and his identikit team something to think about? What an arrogant runt he is...

Sour grapes
We play a way that suits us, has been successful so why change
Thinking he feeling the pressure already.

He's making a great fuss about the referee not awarding Derby a penalty but fails to mention the handball that lead to Derby's goal. He also chose to ignore the dreadful tackle by Lawrence on Morrison which should have seen him red carded. I love it when the opposing manager whinges and complains about the way we play when they fail to win. There is no right or wrong way to play and I thought we thoroughly deserved a point at Derby.

We don't play HIS idea of football, we play Neil Warnock's. How dare we give him and his identikit team something to think about? What an arrogant runt he is...

His idea of football must have given their fans heart attack it was dodgy to say least playing out like they were? Glad we dont do it

Yes, but at least they’re trying to move it quickly through the middle al..Glatzel has no feed, apart from it being dumped on his head.

Yes, but at least they’re trying to move it quickly through the middle al..Glatzel has no feed, apart from it being dumped on his head.

Only moved it quickly because their no 23 was getting ball and running at our defence ! But yes service to gratzel is a problem and need addressing hopefully Tomlin stays fit longer as hes just the person to give him ball that can have results but wont hold breath..

The referee had 4 major decisions to make in the game, he got them all wrong.

1. Derbys goal should have been disallowed for handball.

2. Derby should have had a penalty

3. Our penalty should have been disallowed for handball by Glatzel

4. Lawrence should have been sent off


Regarding the style of play, they hit as many long balls as us when trying to get Marriott down the side of Morrison all game. They played a good passing game but did absolutely nothing with it

They played 67 long balls we played 68

Personally I thought Derby's style was awful, playing around at the back, no width and trying to thread everything through the middle. Before attacking anyone else's style he should look closer to home as they're not exactly taking the league by storm.

Not so much we don’t try to pass, the execution of those passes is poor, because we panic in possession. It’s why we have so little of it. Having 33% possession means we spend 2/3 of the game not creating anything.

He should be careful what he wishes for. They were ripped apart by Brentford playing it on the deck before the international break. Seems his Derby side cant deal with two different types of playing the game. Maybe he should look to get his own house in order first before taking pot shots at others!

Not so much we don’t try to pass, the execution of those passes is poor, because we panic in possession. It’s why we have so little of it. Having 33% possession means we spend 2/3 of the game not creating anything.

Very true, but in so many matches we watch the tippy-tappy between their defense so that half of the opposition's possession stats is in their own half. This means that the opposition are only creating anything 1/3 of the time too.

However, I do agree with your sentiment, I wish we could stop being so utterly predictable as we have shown that we can play football properly for the whole match (Man United immediately pops into my head) but we only seem to do that when we are behind.

I'll just accept and support what I see as it has been very successful tactic for NW and won us promotion to the PL which I never thought I'd ever see us do in my lifetime - now twice!

For as long as we have NW as manager, that's what we'll get - he won't change now - and that's fine by me, he's entitled to play how he wants as he's the boss! NW has brought so much joy to this club and completely turned it around from where we were. We've all enjoyed the ride and I suspect there are a few more twists and turns to be had yet!

NW has my full support playing however he wants his team to play.