Cardiff City

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Cardiff City boss Omer Riza has welcomed the return of star midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

The 34-year old Wales captain played 45 minutes for Cardiff Under-21s in the Premier League Cup hours before the first XI were humbled 7-0 at Leeds United.

Ramsey set up a goal as Cardiff beat Everton 3-2, his first appearance since August because of a hamstring injury suffered playing for Wales in September.

Riza says Ramsey's return provides a boost for Cardiff in a week where their future was improved by key players Callum Robinson, Jak Alnwick and Callum O'Dowda signing new contracts.

"I managed to watch a bit, it was nice to see Aaron get 45 minutes," he said.

"It's nice to see him training and on the pitch, it is positive.

"Now we need to get him to a place where he can compete at a high level."

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Cardiff boss Omer Riza apologised to Bluebirds fans after his side were thrashed 7-0 at Elland Road by Championship leaders Leeds United.

The scoreline did not flatter the home side, who might have won by a bigger scoreline, as Leeds boss Daniel Farke noted.

The Bluebirds' defeat was their heaviest in the league since 1966 and ended Cardiff's unbeaten run of nine games, with Riza's side 19th, four points ahead of the relegation zone.

"Brutal. I'm very disappointed. I can only apologise to the travelling fans," Riza said.

"To lose 7-0 is unacceptable really, no matter how good the opposition is, but we have to move forwards.

"We laid down towards the end and conceded really cheap and simple goals. The aggression to stay in the game wasn't there."

Riza says he was hurt by the manner of the defeat.

"To come away and get beaten 7-0 is painful," Riza told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

"Now it is about how we deal with it. It's a painful day for all involved and we have to learn from it.

"Leeds were miles better than us, that is why they are top of the league and we are where we are.

"It was a humbling and a very disappointing day for us as a staff and a club and players. I think we froze in the first 15 minutes and there were so many things we didn't get right."

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Manolis Siopis has confirmed his imminent Cardiff City departure with a heartfelt message for the club's fans.

The Greece midfielder, 30, is set to return to his homeland with official confirmation of his permanent transfer to Panathinaikos expected on Friday.

After a bright start to his Cardiff career following his move to south Wales in 2023, Siopis has featured less regularly of late.

But he remains a big hit with the club's supporters thanks to his colourful personality and combative attitude on the pitch.

Writing on Instagram, Siopis said: "It's been an incredible experience playing for Cardiff City, and I feel truly blessed to have shared so many beautiful moments with you.

"I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to the amazing fans for your unwavering love and support. A huge thank you to my team for making my dream of playing in such a competitive league a reality.

"A special thanks to everyone at the club - the staff, coaches, board members, and everyone working behind the scenes - your hard work and dedication make this club special.

"Wishing you all the best! May the team reach new heights, overcome every challenge, and continue making the fans proud. I'll always be cheering you on, and who knows - maybe our paths will cross again someday."

Leeds will seek to get back to winning ways after the stalemate at Burnley as they welcome Cardiff to Elland Road on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Bluebirds are 18th, four points ahead of the drop-zone, while Whites have a two-point cushion over second-placed Sheffield United.

• Leeds United have won each of their past two league games against Cardiff City and will be looking to win three in succession against the Welsh side for the first time since September 2016.

• Cardiff City have lost just one of their past 13 away league games against Leeds United (W7 D5), a 1-0 loss at Elland Road in November 2015.

• Leeds are unbeaten in their past 11 Championship matches (W7 D4), and have kept a clean sheet in each of their past three – they last managed four consecutive shutouts in the competition in January/February 2024 (a run of five).

• Cardiff have won just one of their past 16 away league games (D8 L7), though the Bluebirds have scored exactly two goals in five of their last six outings on the road.

• Since the start of last season, Dan James has been directly involved in 23 goals in 33 league appearances at Elland Road (16 goals, seven assists); the most of any Leeds player in this period.

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Ivor: As courageous and together the team are, they are just not good enough. Every season two teams show they are superior with points far ahead at the top, they also manage to sign excellent strikers, why can't city?

Terry: Football is a constant revolving door, players come and players go. Done properly, football is a balance between squad improvement and the development of younger players, of course all dependent on a budget. For teams like Cardiff it's always a trade-off, will the next one through the door improve the overall standard.

Stephen: The team are still in a relegation battle due to the very poor start to the season, despite the recent upturn in form. Teams around us are picking up valuable survival points. A few games without any points could easily see us drop back into the bottom three. There have been goals leaked all season by not shutting down the opposition.

Andy: Omer Riza is doing great, the players are really playing for him, as well as grinding out results. A few more areas could do with bulking.

Mark: Given the injuries to both Aaron Ramsey and David Turnbull, I think extra creativity from midfield is needed. The new Norwegian player is more of a defensive midfielder, so we could do with a 10 or a second striker who plays behind the main striker. We could also do with a winger or an inside forward that can cross the ball, that would be a bonus.

Michael: It looks as though the search for a decent goal scorer has finally come to an end with the signing of Salech. He looks to be a proven 'poacher' in the old school sense of the word. The midfield is solid, you've got Robinson chipping in with goals and Joe Ralls providing some grit and steel. However, defensively I think the team might need another good defender.

Doushki: Desperately need additions at right and left back, Perry Ng's form has been shocking this season and Joel Bagan needs competition. Andy Rinomhota has been a good backup for Ng, but we need better. I'd also like a new keeper as Alnwick's distribution is shocking and Horvath is awful. A new speedster out wide is also required to give us more options going forward.

Jonathan: I've been impressed with a couple of the signings so far, but we still need a decent pacey winger, a creative midfielder and a solid left back before the window shuts. We're still in a relegation fight and the fixtures over the next month will determine whether we are still in that fight come March and April.

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Cardiff City's rearranged Championship fixture against Hull City will be played on Wednesday, 26 February (19:45 GMT).

The match was originally scheduled for Saturday, 8 February, but was postponed following Cardiff's progression to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The Bluebirds will instead travel to Stoke City on that date.

It has been an impressive few weeks for Cardiff City.

While they are still too close to the Championship relegation places for comfort, Saturday's 2-1 win over Derby County means it is now eight games without defeat for manager Omer Riza.

That run of course includes a hammering of south Wales rivals Swansea City to really put the smiles back on the faces at Cardiff City Stadium.

And with the arrival of striker Yousef Salech making an immediate impact with a first goal in the injury-time draw at Millwall, things seem to be looking up.

But with a week to go until the January transfer window closes, do Cardiff have what it takes to maintain this move away from trouble?

Or does Riza need more additions to really start fuelling confidence that the side can avoid a relegation battle?

Have your say here, external

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Cardiff City are hopeful of making further signings this week, with Ajax midfielder Sivert Mannsverk the latest player to be linked.

The Bluebirds have only brought in one player so far, striker Yousef Salech from Swedish side Sirius.

Reports in the Dutch media claim Cardiff are set to sign Mannsverk on loan until the end of the season, but sources at the Welsh club have yet to confirm their interest.

The Norwegian midfielder, 22, has only made two league appearances for Ajax this season because of injury.

Mannsverk joined Ajax from Molde, in his native Norway, in 2023.

"We've got everything in hand in respect of transfers. Everything's still ongoing," said Cardiff manager Omer Riza.

"We've still got nine or ten days left and conversations have been good with players, the board and the clubs.

"So hopefully things will move forward in the next three to five to six days. Hopefully."

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Cardiff City manager Omer Riza believes a more "aggressive" mindset has been key to their unbeaten run which has revived their bid for Championship survival.

Cardiff beat relegation rivals Derby County 2-1 on Saturday to make it eight games without defeat in all competitions.

The unbeaten run is all the more remarkable as it has come immediately after the Bluebirds had gone nine matches without winning.

They are now 18th in the Championship table, four points clear of the bottom three.

"It [the unbeaten run] is really important, coming off a run when we didn't win in nine," said Riza.

"There was always an element of competitiveness in those games but we weren't doing what we're doing now. It's important we had this block of games.

"The attitude and mindset is more aggressive. We're building that now, credit to the players. Other teams have lost around us or drawn. We just have to keep pushing forwards."

Cardiff's next match is away against Championship leaders Leeds United next Saturday.

Before then, Riza will attend his father's funeral on Tuesday following his death earlier this month.

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Omer Riza admits Cardiff City's Championship fixture with Derby County is "massive" given the Bluebirds' struggles against some of their relegation rivals this season.

Cardiff are unbeaten in six league matches going into their meeting with the Rams in south Wales on Saturday (15:00 GMT) but remain just two points and two places above the bottom three.

Paul Warne's side have lost five successive league outings ahead of the trip to the Welsh capital to sit one one and one position below Cardiff.

And Riza admits Cardiff are well aware of the need to pick up points against teams around them in the fight to avoid the drop into League One.

"[The games against the teams around you] are really important," Riza said.

"It's probably where we've not done too well. If you look at Oxford and you look at Preston, they've gone up slightly, QPR, so we have to make sure we get that right.

"The boys know how important it is, we know how important it is and I'm sure come Saturday, we'll be ready to go.

"It's a massive game again."

Goalkeeper Jak Alnwick admits Derby's recent run fully highlights the unpredictable nature of the Championship.

"Every game's massive, whether we play Derby or Leeds the week after, we're going in with the same mentality," said the goalkeeper.

"I was looking at Derby about eight or nine games ago like everyone else saying 'they're having a brilliant season'.

"But their form has dropped a little bit and they're down there with us at the minute.

"It's such a crazy league that anything can happen, but we'll focus on ourselves and bring what we bring and every game is massive between now and the end of the season."