I Can’t Shout At Them . . . Their Morale Is low, Says Cardiff City Boss Erol Bulut
Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut has admitted morale in his squad is fragile after their latest setback.
The Bluebirds were hammered 4-1 at Norwich City to make it three defeats in a row and six in their last seven games.
It is a run that has seen Bulut’s team fall from play-off contention to the edge of the relegation scrap – just eight points above the drop zone with 14 matches still to play.
Cardiff currently have 40 points – five more than they had earned at this stage last season.
Bulut’s team now host Blackburn Rovers in midweek and their manager admitted he is wary of raising his voice to players who are at a low ebb.
“It hurts me a lot,” said Bulut, who is out of contract this summer.
“I have to handle this quickly with my players, because we need these players again on Tuesday. I need my players on Tuesday.
“I spoke to them inside (the changing room), they have to be positive. I cannot shout at them to make them more down, they are already down because we lost 4-1.
“I will try to keep morale up to have a good morale on Tuesday for the game.
“I think in my career I never lost so many games in a row, so I have to adapt to that as well.
“I don’t like losing and my players don’t like losing. We have to give the fans something back.”
Cardiff actually went ahead at Norwich through Jamilu Collins but Norwich quickly recovered to reel off their fourth straight home win as they cruised past their feeble opponents to maintain their Championship play-off push.
Collins fired Cardiff ahead after 19 minutes but the hosts were in front by half-time thanks to two goals in five minutes from Josh Sargent and Gabriel Sara.
Sargent went on to add his 10th of the season after the break, with a fourth from substitute Christian Fassnacht completing a comfortable win.
“It was a very difficult afternoon,” Bulut added.
