Enzo Maresca expected a tough challenge at Cardiff City tonight and having watched his side navigate it to secure our place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, the head coach was a very happy man indeed.
The Blues burst into life in the second half and took the lead through a fine Alejandro Garnacho finish. Despite the Bluebirds, who provided stiff opposition, levelling with 15 minutes remaining, we had the final say through Pedro Neto and then Garnacho.
In his assessment of the cup tie, Maresca acknowledged his starting XI contained several players who have not seen much action of late, which made the outcome all the sweeter.
‘These are the kind of games I fall in love even more with the players because you cannot imagine how easy it is to slip, to slide, because they are tricky games,’ Maresca said.
‘Every season there are teams who lose to League One or League Two teams. You need to pay attention. Cardiff are very well-organised. Off the ball they are very intense. We expected some difficulties in the first half knowing Ty is not playing a lot, Guiu is not playing a lot, Facu is not playing a lot. They need minutes to be there.
‘First half we were very good off the ball. We struggled to create chances, but we expected that. Second half we changed it and we were better. We deserved to win the game.’
Maresca’s name was sung loud and proud at full-time by the loyal travelling support in one corner of the Cardiff City Stadium as he and his team lapped up the fans’ applause. There is now another semi-final, our third in the past 18 months, to look forward to.
‘I am happy we are going to play another semi-final. It’s what the fans deserve. It was a great moment at the end, I appreciate it. I am always thankful.
‘I have said many times in press conferences the support has always been there, knowing that any support in the world when you don’t win, they are not happy.
‘Now you cannot imagine how happy I am for the players, it’s another semi-final for them, and for the fans, for everyone.’
