dai-sport journalist Terry Phillips sat down for a chat with Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan before Cardiff City’s 3-0 win against Aston Villa. The first part of the interview went online yesterday – and here is part two.
Vincent Tan remains furious about one Danish striker who signed for the Bluebirds, but he is loving the progress of another man from Copenhagen.
Andreas Cornelius, now aged 24 and with Atalanta in Serie A, proved a disastrous signing for Cardiff City in 2013 and played only 107 minutes football in the Premier Division.
The contrast with Kenneth Zohore, 23, is vast. The big Dane certainly put a smile on Tan’s face when the Cardiff City owner and Malaysian businessman attended their 3-0 win against Aston Villa.
The difference, of course, is Neil Warnock. The manager and owner have built a firm friendship. They talk regularly, they get on – and both clearly want the Bluebirds to challenge hard for promotion.
Tan sat in the Chairman’s Suite at Cardiff City Stadium, happy to talk about Warnock.
“Neil is helping to ensure our club is stable, he is sensible,” says Tan. “He knew the problems we had and the mistakes we have made before. So Neil is doing a great job and we are happy with Neil.
“For all of us, the goal is to get us back to the Premier League.
“I think we have a very good chance to be promoted, but I always say God willing. We will try to be humble and we pray for good luck because luck is important.
“I believe we are lucky, we have good luck, we have Neil – thanks to Mehmet (Dalman) because we could have got someone terrible. But we have got Neil, we are happy and if we are promoted I believe we have a good chance of staying if we do things sensibly.
“As long as we don’t spend £10m on a striker! If you do that he must score 10 or 20 goals.
“It was unfortunate that we only stayed in the Premier League for one season. There were reasons for that. The main reason, I always say is that we spent a lot of money there and what did we get? We paid £10m for Cornelius, who scarcely played.
“I’m in the Premier League I need to survive.”
Cornelius signed for £9.5m, had a big reputation as a centre-forward with massive potential and earned £45,000 a week.
The young Dane had to move on, Cardiff City lost most of the money they had paid out and Cornelius was left with the task of trying to rebuild his career.
Zohore, who, like Cornelius was born in Copenhagen and played for their home city club, looked a Bluebirds flop before Neil Warnock was appointed manager.
Frederic Gounongbe was rated ahead of Zohore, but Warnock saw raw talent and has worked closely with the tall, powerful forward.
Zohore has listened, he has worked and developed. Warnock has transformed the big man to such an extent that former England and Chelsea captain John Terry was left gasping at Cardiff City Stadium.
Terry and Co simply could not cope with the pace, hard-running, power and awareness of Zohore, who could have scored two or three goals against Aston Villa and set up Junior Hoilett with a superb assist.
Warnock rates Zohore in the £20m range, although both manager and player insist he’s staying with Cardiff, while Villa manager Steve Bruce admitted: “I was impressed by the centre-forward (Zohore), extremely impressed.”
The Bluebirds have started 2017-18 in winning style, scoring four goals and conceding none in two games, but Warnock played things down after the final whistle. There is, as he pointed out time and again, a long, long way to go.
Tan, though, appreciates the new harmony and togetherness Warnock has cultivated by inter-acting with Cardiff supporters and ensuring his players to the same.
“Yes, there is more harmony,” said Tan. “The fans should be together with us because we’re trying to do the right thing.
“We haven’t got a manager who will do the wrong thing – Neil is doing the right thing.
“When he does that and we also do the right thing – we can support when it is supportable.”
Tan was adamant there are no plans to sell Cardiff City. He is clearly keen to have a second Premier League experience with the Bluebirds and ensure there is a better outcome.
When asked if he was actively looking to sell the club he said: “No, I always say this. I have many businesses. You don’t fall in love with your businesses.
“If somebody offers the right price, yeah we’ll sell. People approach us and we have a look, we talk. But that doesn’t mean we’re selling. If the right offer comes, an offer we can’t refuse, sure we’ll sell. It’s business.”
Tan, though, also admits he enjoys being Cardiff City owner and is committed, saying: “I’m in love. When I’m here I’m in love.”
He is keen to visit the stadium on more occasions this season and said: “Yes, God-willing I will be here.”