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Cardiff boss Malky Mackay relishes Welsh derby prospect

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments48

Swansea City v Cardiff City in 2011

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay admits the prospect of a derby against Welsh rivals Swansea is an incentive to reaching the Premier League.

Leading the Championship by eight points with 15 games remaining, the Bluebirds are favourites for automatic promotion to the top flight.

The two clubs last met in 2011 when Cardiff won 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium.

"Certainly playing in a derby against them [Swansea] would be something I'd really like to do," said Mackay.

Cardiff hope to go a step nearer promotion by beating Brighton at the City Stadium on Tuesday.

And Mackay is hoping to follow Swansea's example when they reached the Premier League in 2011.

Swansea City are in their second season in the Premier League and are currently eighth in the table.

"It's something [promotion] we will try to keep working towards. Brendan [Rodgers] and Swansea did that and great credit to them in getting the club into the promised land.

"It's been an 18-month journey down here to try and do that so far and it's something we are fully focused on.

"It's really pleasing to be in that situation [eight points clear]. We know there are a lot of games to go and a lot of points to play for, but delighted we have got that gap.

"The players have been nothing short of excellent in their professionalism."

Mackay is delighted with the state of Welsh football.

Not only is there the prospect of two clubs in the Premier League next season, but on Sunday Swansea City play in the Capital One League Cup final, against Bradford, a year after Cardiff City reached the Wembley showpiece.

In 2011 Cardiff City lost out in the final to Liverpool on penalties.

"I think it is fantastic for the country," said Mackay.

"[We have] two national competitions and a league and two years in a row the two Welsh clubs have got to one of the two national competition finals.

"I think it's fantastic for Wales."

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48 comments

  • Comment posted by User0085987093, at 14:56 19 Feb 2013

    #12 - No other club has switched their entire historical identity (kit, badge, nickname) to expressly appeal to some imagined foreign market, sported another country's name on their shirts, flown another country's flag prominently all over their ground and kow-towed to the tyrannical owner's every whim.

    Cardiff City don't exist in any recognisable, meaningful way, it's Vincent Tan FC now.

  • Comment posted by User0444086725, at 19:30 20 Feb 2013

    Jack army.... don't think anyone has said your going down?! Just funny about how 'professional' you think you are? How do you define that? Genius.

    Good luck on saturday anyway. Unlike yourselves, were not bitter and i for one am happy that you have something to shout about. Wasn't long ago I heard a lad crying on the radio thinking you were going out of the league.

  • Comment posted by User0083896464, at 15:17 19 Feb 2013

    @ KingLaursen - Houllier Out Capello Out

    Totally irrelevant to the post. I don't care what they play before kick off for the LC final. All the Swans fans including myself will be singing our national anthem throughout the game.

    A premier league South Wales derby will be a fantastic occasion. I will laugh if they blow a 10 point advantage though!

  • Comment posted by User0825176430, at 12:46 19 Feb 2013

    #2,

    City are top of the league with a game in hand, 8 points on second place and 11 points on (the more important) 3rd placed team. That's reality, not a dream.

    There's a long way to go till City are promoted, but they're in an exceptionally healthy position.

    This is good for Wales, more importantly.

  • Comment posted by User0085987093, at 17:07 19 Feb 2013

    @JerusalemSlim - you clearly don't have the merest clue about me or what went on at my club. This piece isn't by me but it sums up the events and my feelings personally -

    http://thelonegunmanblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/its-more-than-just-colour_1920.html

    By saying the club may "not want supporters like me" I presume you mean fans who followed them for decades wherever they were in the league?

  • Comment posted by User0085987093, at 13:44 19 Feb 2013

    Surely there'll be no derby next year, the Red Dragons represent Malaysia not anywhere in South Wales.

  • Comment posted by The Lone Rangel, at 18:06 19 Feb 2013

    HarryTrustcott is correct. Cardiff City ceased to exist when their supporters chose to roll over and accept the rebrand. By Vincent Tan's own admission he was looking forward to the "Malaysian Derby" with QPR nexy season.

    No true CCFC supporter will have anything to do with them now. A soulless franchise and rich mans toy owned and operated from abroad.

  • Comment posted by User0085987093, at 15:46 19 Feb 2013

    @KopOfTheLeague "So it isn't the identity change you are making it out to be"

    Yeah right, take a look here and tell me it's not an identity change :

    http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Cardiff_City/Cardiff_City.htm

    No other club has dissolved it's history and identity in any way comparable to Malaysia FC, they're a cowardly, sellout joke and that's coming from a supporter of 35 years previously.

  • Comment posted by Dynamic3D, at 22:37 19 Feb 2013

    Cardiff are due a drop in form and it started tonight against Brighton.

    Besides, Cardiff are only doing well because NONE of the relegated clubs have challenged due to internal problems. That has made things a lot easier for everyone else, which is nice for getting promotion, but deceptive if you think you got into the PL on real merit.

    Unlike Swansea, Cardiff have no style of play to rely on.

  • Comment posted by User0085987093, at 16:39 19 Feb 2013

    @25 it was certainly an unpopular move but changing the background to the bluebird on the badge and moving the club's name to elsewhere on the shirt are hardly comparable to changing every single aspect of the club's identity as happened last summer.

  • Comment posted by saddletramp , at 12:45 19 Feb 2013

    2.
    Cardiff are 1/20 to be promoted,only fractionally longer than Manu to win the prem,i think we can assume promotion is on the cards.

  • Comment posted by User0444086725, at 12:58 20 Feb 2013

    Hahaha... you gotta love Swansea fans. Fresh from a 5-0 whooping (which could have been 10 apparently!) they are claiming to be all but in Europe. We on the other hand are not counting our chickens just relishing the prospect of a season in the PL.

    Davies26 - you are exactly right there.

  • Comment posted by User0877852932, at 09:02 20 Feb 2013

    The bluebirds were so unlucky in front of goal, that's why they lost. Oh well...time to change back to blue jerseys then. It was good while it lasted. :-)

  • Comment posted by charlessy, at 17:00 19 Feb 2013

    Swansea could be playing in the championship next season if they play like they did against Liverpool. Cardiff fans are some of the best because they have stuck with the club during the hardest of time and deserve a lot better as they are getting now.

    I think the owners weren't necessarily wrong to change the colour of the home shirt but to make the bluebird logo smaller on the badge

  • Comment posted by User0343791165, at 13:40 19 Feb 2013

    #6 Jokes aside would probably be good for Wales and also a guaranteed 6points for the Jacks..

  • Comment posted by User0343791165, at 09:16 20 Feb 2013

    thankyou Orlandi we still love you god bless xx

  • Comment posted by JollyJack18, at 19:38 19 Feb 2013

    @30, you make the point about having 'stuck with the club during the hardest of time and deserve a lot better as they are getting now.' What about that of Swansea ten years looking down the barrel of relegation? Just saying a rather insignificant point in the context of things.

  • Comment posted by D1679454292039, at 13:35 19 Feb 2013

    Looking forward to seeing Cardiff in the Prem,another derby is all good news.

    Not sure about them wearing red tho!

  • Comment posted by User0444086725, at 13:04 19 Feb 2013

    #2 Judging by Sundays performance that could happen too... ;-) hahaha

    Nice one Malky, without counting chickens (not going to happen after previous seasons!) hopefully the derby can be back next season. I love the Swansea games as the atmosphere is always top draw. Have missed it the past few seasons...

  • Comment posted by User0526856790, at 12:49 19 Feb 2013

    @4 Will the impending promotion improve the national team though?

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