Erol Bulut and Enzo Maresca share their perspectives on the upcoming clash between Cardiff City and Leicester City at the Cardiff City Stadium, marking both teams’ final fixture of the calendar year.
Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut draws inspiration from his triumphs over Galatasaray and Fenerbahce and believes his Bluebirds have the capability to emerge victorious against Leicester City on Friday night. Drawing parallels between Cardiff City and the Turkish giants, Bulut emphasizes the quality within Enzo Maresca’s squad as they pursue a resolute charge towards an immediate return to the Premier League. Despite Cardiff’s commendable record of 19 wins from 24 Championship matches, the outcome of the contest at Cardiff is anything but predetermined.
Recalling his experiences in Turkey, Bulut recollects his tenure managing modest top-flight clubs such as Yeni Malatyaspor, Alanyaspor, and Gaziantep, each occasioning victories over Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. His track record of unsettling the odds against favored opponents remains a source of confidence.
Bulut underscores Leicester’s retention of high-caliber players following their relegation last season, likening their resolve for a Premier League return to that of Leeds. However, he emphasizes the unpredictable nature of football, drawing on his experiences competing against formidable opponents in his career.
Referring to the reverse fixture in August, where City secured a late winner courtesy of Cesare Casadei’s debut goal off the bench, Bulut expresses determination: “We will spare no effort to secure points against Leicester.” Reflecting on their previous encounter at Leicester, he notes the missed opportunities and believes the match could have yielded a different outcome with a bit of luck.
Enzo Maresca shares his perspective, acknowledging the improvement in both sides since their previous meeting in August. He recognizes the heightened competition in the Championship, noting Cardiff’s 11th position, just two points adrift of the playoff places in a tightly contested battle for fifth and sixth.
Maresca underscores the evolving nature of teams when afforded time to progress, pointing out that Cardiff, too, has shown signs of advancement. With the demanding fixture schedule, he anticipates a challenging game for both sides, acknowledging the complexities that arise from frequent matches and their impact on all clubs in the current environment.
