Yahoo Sports Riza goes on the attack in bid to land Cardiff job
Interim manager Omer Riza has vowed to make Cardiff City more attacking and aggressive as he aims to take his chance to get the job on a full-time basis.
Erol Bulut was sacked on Sunday with the Bluebirds bottom of the Championship after their worst start to a season for 94 years.
Riza was placed in charge temporarily and - although he says he has not discussed the length of his tenure with Cardiff’s board - the former Leyton Orient coach hopes to make his mark, starting with Saturday’s trip to Hull City.
"We’ve not had the results we’ve wanted so there has to be a certain element of change," Riza said. "Whether that’s the players or the system, that approach, this week we have worked on it so there is a change at the end of the week.
"We always know when things like this happen there is an element of a bounce-back from the players. They’ve all been buoyant and front-footed... the energy has been really high. Training sessions have been motivated, we are in a good place.
"I’m an attack-minded coach. We haven’t got enough bodies in forward areas over the last six games and we’ve been timid with our pressing.
"It still has to have an element of structure, but hopefully the way we are approaching the game out of possession it will give us good numbers going forward, and hopefully we will create more chances and score more goals from that."
Riza added: “We [Riza and the board] haven’t had a conversation about the number of games. I am just taking it game by game, week by week. I am just making sure the players are ready.”
Riza joined Cardiff in the summer after spending almost six years at Watford, where he had been promoted to assistant first-team coach after several years in the club’s academy.
Asked if the potential opportunity to manage Cardiff in the event they sacked Bulut had been part of his motivation to take the job, Riza added: “I never like to go into any environment thinking this would happen.
“I gave my best for Erol and unfortunately we didn’t get the results. There is never that thought, but I’m getting to the point in my career now that if you get the opportunity you’ve got to take it.
"I have worked really hard. I had a really good playing career, I played for 17 years. I’ve been managed by some great coaches, Don Howe, Arsene Wenger, Harry Redknapp, not to mention the coaches I’ve played under abroad. Culturally, I have learnt a lot as a coach.
"As a coach, I have worked in academy football, with youngsters and players throughout the leagues. I have worked non-league, grassroots, a first-team coach, head coach at Leyton Orient. I’ve done the groundwork and I’ve worked really hard to get to this point. I’m ready to take on whatever challenges are in front of me."
The immediate challenge facing Riza is a daunting one as Cardiff are still searching for their first league win of the season, having picked up just one point and scored one goal in their six Championship matches so far.
The Bluebirds’ attacking shortcomings have been laid bare, and that is an area Riza wants to improve.
“When I was a player, I loved it when you got the fans off their seats. That’s what it’s about," he added.
“There’s been an element of aggression in respect of training sessions, an element of making sure you are doing your job properly, duelling around the pitch. I think we’ve lacked duelling in games.
“There’s been some tough conversations with players in terms of the approach to the game. They’re all in a good place.”
