Joe Ralls is optimistic about Cardiff City’s chances this season after securing two wins to kick off the new campaign.
The Bluebirds’ stalwart is set to play a huge part again this season after nailing down a permanent spot in Neil Warnock’s midfield last season.
And ahead of Saturday’s huge clash with league favourites Aston Villa, Ralls has outlined the importance of the opening day win over Burton and says he’s pleased with the strength of this year’s team following seven summer additions.
“It’s a tough place to go and we found that out last year, but luckily we knew we had to be patient in the end, luckily big Ken (Zohore) came up with the goods in the end and got three points for us.
“He (Kenneth Zohore) had a great finish to the end of last year and he seems to have started well this year.
“We know as a team that this year, if we manage to stay in games then we have the quality throughout the team to go and win games and that’s not just ken but all over.”
“We have a good changing room, the gaffer has brought in good players and a full season with the management helps.”
Cardiff struggled with fitness at time last season, conceding a whole host of late goals over the Christmas period, but Neil Warnock has set out to put that right over the summer.
The Bluebirds’ best spells in the first two games have come in the second half and players have cited the tough pre-season as the key.
Ralls himself says a Neil Warnock pre-season has stood the team in good stead. He added: “The first two weeks were hard, training and running but when the games come around, its more about getting minutes.
“You don’t quite know until you play the competitive games how fit you feel, but against Burton and the boys who played 120 against Portsmouth looked fit and we’re in a good place fitness-wise - it was a tough pre-season and that’s obviously helped us.”
One of the key battles in Saturday’s clash with Aston Villa will be between experienced defender John Terry and up-and-coming striker Kenneth Zohore.
The battle could well define the game for either of the two sides, but Joe Ralls says the team are keeping their eye on the bigger picture.
The midfielder concluded: “I haven’t heard him talk about it but John Terry is an amazing test for him on a personal level to be up against someone like that but we have to win the game and that’s the most important thing.”
(Featured image: Jon Candy)