Ramsey focused on Cardiff but has World Cup hope

Aaron Ramsey started his senior Cardiff City career as a 16-year-old in 2007

Interim boss Aaron Ramsey insists his full focus is on leading Cardiff City to Championship safety but says he has "unfinished business" as a player.

Midfielder Ramsey stepped up to lead the Bluebirds from the dugout after Omer Riza's dismissal last weekend.

The Wales captain, 34, is concentrating on the Bluebirds' final two games of the season, at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday and away to Norwich City.

But Ramsey, who is recovering from hamstring surgery, says he has not yet thought about an immediate future in coaching.

"My way of looking at it is these two games and trying to keep this club in the Championship," said Ramsey.

"It means a lot to me and to be given this opportunity to try and do so, I couldn't turn that down.

"My full focus is on keeping Cardiff in the Championship and then it will be back to rehab with the hamstring."

Ramsey played for Wales at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when Rob Page's side disappointed as they exited at the group stage.

Asked if had unfinished business as a player, Ramsey replied: "Yeah, of course there's a lot to play for and that World Cup [in 2026] is a massive carrot being dangled, so that's what I'll be focusing on in a few weeks.

"I'm trying to get back from a hamstring injury so I'll be straight back into rehab after this season has finished, that's for sure.

"I managed to get the brace off on the weekend so it's still a few months away. I've had the operation hoping that it might be the case to get my hamstring back working properly."

'We are in this together'

Cardiff are three points from safety and may have to beat West Brom to have any hope of staying up.

A draw would leave Cardiff needing to rely on other results just to prolong the survival fight until the final weekend of the season, while defeat would mean relegation is all but confirmed regardless of what happens elsewhere given their goal difference.

"It is a difficult position we are in, there's no shying away from that," said Ramsey.

"For me, I'm enjoying it. The people I've brought in are enjoying it and have brought that bit of freshness and everyone is buying into it. It's all about getting the players into the best possible place for the game on Saturday.

"There are a lot of things that can happen until the end of the season, a lot of football to be played."

Ramsey says he is "prepared for every scenario" as Cardiff look to avoid returning to the third tier after 22 years playing in the top two divisions of English football.

"The players, staff in the club are all together in this," he added.

"They have seen that with the fans at the weekend. The celebration after the goal [against Oxford], jumping in with the people in the crowd, the bench was over, some of the subs were involved.

"We all want the same, together, so we all have to come together to make that possible."