Cardiff City boss drops Stoke City tactical hint as 'hand forced' by demand for 'desire'
Omer Riza has told his embattled Cardiff City players he wants to see more desire when his side visit Stoke City on Saturday.
That comes after the Bluebirds boss slated them after their 2-0 loss to Preston in midweek, claiming it had been ‘men against boys’ in a meek display in front of their own supporters.
Riza, who initially took charge on an interim basis before being handed the job for the rest of the season has demanded better at the bet365 Stadium – and put the responsibility of escaping the relegation zone firmly on his charges.
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“It’s down to the players to pick themselves up after Wednesday’s performance,” Riza told the Cardiff website. “Sometimes it’s not tactics, it’s not systems: it’s desire and quality instead.
"We didn’t do that in midweek and we are looking for a reaction. We are looking for energy to want to play, an intensity to want to play. We have to refocus now and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“I think the first block of games really caught up to the players and they really had to knuckle down to get back to where they got to. There’s been a few injuries too and a bit of inconsistency, which never helps, but the performances need to be better.
"That might force my hand in the way we play, system wise. We still want to be on the front foot and still want to be able to attack, but there will be a few tweaks.”
Meanwhile forward Kion Etete, who has not played yet this season due to a hamstring injury, is nearing a return but won’t be ready to play against the Potters.
Riza said: “Kion is training, and he’s been training with us for a while now. He’s putting in a little bit more having had a bit of a setback in the friendly game we had during the international break, but now he’s back out on the grass and training. He’s still not quite there yet, but he’s working towards getting back with us.”
Stoke are themselves coming off the back of a disappointing midweek defeat - 2-1 away to Luton Town - which means they are now winless in six matches.
