By Gareth James
Omer Riza has revealed he held “constructive talks” with Cardiff City’s board as he edges closer to his ambition of being given the manager’s job on a permanent basis.
Cardiff scored two late goals to snatch a dramatic 2-1 win at home against promotion-chasing Norwich City at the weekend.
Victory saw the Bluebirds extend their unbeaten run under caretaker manager Riza to six games and climb a further four places clear of the relegation zone.
The team’s recent resurgence under Riza continued with two late goals from Callum Robinson and Callum O’Dowda.
Omer Riza reacts to what was an emotional day at the Cardiff City Stadium… to say the least. #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/MWvegSGCAY
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) November 3, 2024
Under Riza’s leadership, Cardiff have accumulated 14 points over seven matches, achieving four victories, two draws, and just one defeat.
“We’ve had a good constructive meeting yesterday and we will move forward with that,” said Riza.
“I was really happy with the meeting and I am sure in due course the board will talk with you guys (the media).”
Riza has made no secret of the fact he is keen to step up from assistant following the dismissal of previous manager Erol Bulut.
But after initially being willing to discuss that ambition, he has shied away from repeating it in recent weeks.
Omer Riza Refers All Cardiff City Job Questions To Those Upstairs
However, he admitted after the Norwich comeback win, “I have been working hard for a long time for a position like this.
“This opportunity has come around (being interim manager) and I am thankful for it and I think everyone is applying themselves the right way, we are getting results and I’d like to think that everyone is happy.
“We will keep moving forwards.”
Borja Sainz, the division’s top scorer, hit his 11th league goal of the season to put the Norwich ahead early in the second half at the Cardiff City Stadium.
But Robinson came off the bench grab an 89th-minute equaliser before O’Dowda’s left-footed winner deep into stoppage time.
Omer Riza Makes Bold Bid For Cardiff City Job By Throwing Ball In Court Of Vincent Tan
Riza added: “It’s a really emotional one with the players in the changing room afterwards. It was a great comeback, a great result against a very good side. You have to give the players every credit.
“We wanted to contain their wings, especially Sainz, but he got away from us in one moment to score a magic goal.
“It was tough at 1-0 but we made some changes, the boys dug in and never gave up getting back into the game.
“Given the way we came back against a top side like Norwich, I would have been happy with the draw but even then we didn’t stop driving forwards and now I’m ecstatic.”
The painful defeat was a first in eight games for manager Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side, who had looked to be moving into sixth place before slipping back to ninth.
Thorup said: “We played a great game for the first 75 minutes and did everything right to get the three points.
“But we had a few more players missing and some guys out of position and others back after a few weeks out and that showed in the last 15 minutes.
“That’s why we needed to get that second goal to finish the game but I can’t really have asked for more from the players.
“I know we’ve lost and it’s disappointing but sometimes these games happen. Goals can come out of nothing and that’s what we’ve seen here.
“We just have to make sure these players learn from that last 15 minutes to be more solid for the next time they are in that situation.”
