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Neil Warnock puts family first after Cardiff release the tension
After what has arguably been the most gruelling period in the club’s history, Cardiff City finally have a chance to stop, rest and reflect with the team not in action during next weekend’s FA Cup fifth-round programme.
Among those to have felt the weight of sadness most heavily following the Emiliano Sala tragedy is Neil Warnock, the manager, who has rejected the chance to take his squad away on a warm-weather training camp.
“The club gave me permission to fly out to Tenerife, to take them all for four days, but after what’s happened over the past two weeks, I’d rather cuddle my kids and see my missus because it’s been a long two weeks,” said the 70-year-old.
“I’ve never known anything like this in my life and I’ve seen most things. They’ll all be reflecting on what’s happened and I think your family is more important than football, isn’t it? They are all booking different flights and some of them aren’t going anywhere. I’m going somewhere near Swansea for two nights.”
In a quieter moment, Warnock will at least be able to reflect on back-to-back top-flight victories for Cardiff, a feat last achieved in 1962, which has given them a real chance of survival.
“When you get to my age, you don’t worry too much, really. You don’t know what’s around the corner, especially what’s happened around here the last two weeks,” Warnock said, before adding that he would deserve two manager-of-the-year awards if he keeps the club in the Premier League.
There was a palpable release of tension in the away end at the culmination of a dramatic match in which Cardiff leapfrogged Southampton to climb out of the bottom three after Kenneth Zohore’s 93rd-minute winner.
Supporters, players and management celebrated together at the final whistle and midfielder Aron Gunnarsson said that he hoped Sala’s family could now finally begin the grieving process.
“Obviously Sala has been found,” he said. “The most important thing was for the family to mourn. And knowing that now, hopefully the pilot [David Ibbotson] will be found and his family can mourn. It has been difficult but we have stuck together and our gaffer said after the game: this one was for Sala.”
Sol Bamba, who had put Cardiff ahead after 69 minutes before Jack Stephens’ equaliser in the first minuted of added time, admitted he had mixed feelings after his goal for the visitors.
“There was a lot going through my mind after scoring,” Bamba said. “I knew Emiliano was watching from up there, so it was so good to get the three points.
“It has been a tough couple of weeks and we knew that we needed to get a result. It wasn’t easy, especially with the events that have unfolded recently.
“The result is a massive boost, especially at this stage of the season. We want to build up momentum and go on a run of games.”
Footage emerged after the game of fans making aeroplane gestures in the direction of Cardiff City supporters during the visitors’ 2-1 win, which was their first game since Sala’s death was formally confirmed.
Contrary to reports, a police spokesman confirmed that no arrests were made but the constabulary are working with the club to determine what action will be taken against the individuals involved, all of whom were ejected from the stadium.
Southampton issued a statement on Saturday stating: “The club will continue to work with Hampshire Police to identify any individuals deemed to have made indecent gestures towards Cardiff supporters.
“Such behaviour has no place in our game and will not be tolerated at St Mary’s. The club will be taking an extremely firm stance against anyone involved and intends to ban those supporters identified.”