Cardiff boss Bulut not worried about losing job

Erol Bulut applaudsImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
Image caption,

Former Fenerbahce boss Erol Bulut signed a new two-year deal as Cardiff City manager in June

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Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut says he is not worried about his future but accepts criticism for the club’s worst start to a league season for 94 years.

The Bluebirds are bottom of the Championship with just one point and a single goal from six matches.

Cardiff owner Vincent Tan has gone through 11 permanent managers during his 14 years at the club and, after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Leeds United, Bulut was asked if he was worried he would become the next to lose his job.

“For him [Tan] it will not be something new I don't think,” said Bulut. “Why do I have to worry about that?

“Because he is the owner, he wants results and the club getting in a better position. We can speak about a lot of other things, but right now is not the moment. Many things are connected.

“If the club take this decision, I have to take it how it comes. I didn't have anything about this. We didn't talk about something like that.”

Cardiff’s defeat against Leeds was their fifth from six games this season, with their only point and goal coming during last month’s south Wales derby draw at Swansea City.

That total from six matches is the Bluebirds’ worst since the 1930-31 season when they started their old Second Division – as it was then known – campaign with five successive losses followed by a draw.

The dismal nature of the performances this season have been as worrying as the results, with Cardiff’s blunt and unimaginative displays attracting criticism from fans, pundits and former players.

"When you don't take results as a manager or as a team, you get attacked and critics are coming. This is normal. Everywhere is the same,” said Bulut.

“Even if you play some games much better, but if you don't score, no-one speaks about how well you played and how many chances you created.

“Everything is about winning and losing. If you lose games it is normal you get criticism.

“These critics I take. I can say that in front of them. But it has to be at a normal level.”

This abject start to Bulut's second season comes after the former Fenerbahce boss had overseen a significant improvement in his first campaign.

Before Bulut's arrival, Cardiff had endured two successive battles to avoid relegation but, with the ex-Turkey Under-21 international at the helm, they finished a comfortable 12th in the Championship table.

In doing so, Bulut became the first Bluebirds manager to last a whole season since Neil Warnock oversaw the 2018-19 term.

“We don't forget that when I took over last season, where the club had been,” said Bulut.

“We were nearly relegated if Reading didn't get the six points taken away, maybe we wouldn't be here. But this is the past, now we have to speak about this. It is normal you have critics if you don't get a result after six games."