By Gareth James
Cardiff City manager Omer Riza has praised Calum Chambers’ switch from defender to midfielder and insists the transformation could be key to the club’s hopes of pulling away from the Championship relegation zone.
Bluebirds boss Riza has praised the 29-year-old’s performances in his new role, calling him “excellent” after his displays in recent matches against Watford and Coventry.
Chambers, who joined Cardiff from Aston Villa on a three-year deal in the summer, had initially been a mainstay in central defence, starting 20 of his 22 matches this season in that position.
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However, injuries and tactical adjustments prompted Riza to deploy him as a holding midfielder—a position he excelled in during his time at Fulham and Southampton.
“I knew Calum played a whole season at Fulham, and when he came through at Southampton, he played holding midfield,” Riza said.
“He’s an experienced player, he has got good ability on the ball and understands the game defensively, so for me, it was a no-brainer.”
Riza acknowledged the move was partly driven by necessity due to injuries but believes it has provided the team with a newfound stability.
“In the last two games, he has been excellent in there with Sio (Manolis Siopis). It’s a bit through lack of options, but it’s the right option at the right time and has given us an element of solidity there.”
Despite Chambers’ strong performances, Cardiff’s away form remains a concern.
The team finally secured their first road win of the season at Watford on December 29, yet they’ve struggled to convert promising performances into points, collecting just six points from 11 away matches before the victory at Vicarage Road.
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Reflecting on the away fixtures at Coventry and Stoke, where late goals denied Cardiff four crucial points, Riza has expressed his frustration.
“Our performances haven’t been that bad away from home, but we haven’t picked up the points we need so desperately,” he added.
“We haven’t won at home, which elevates anxiety and frustration.”
Cardiff’s next challenge is a trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday, where Riza will face his former West Ham teammate, Michael Carrick, now Boro’s manager.
“I played with Michael at West Ham. He’s a great guy, first and foremost, respectful,” said Riza.
“He is doing really well in his job there. He’s got a really good squad, no one can deny that—solid, disciplined, and with a front line that can cause problems. It’s a tough game.”
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As Cardiff battle to overcome injuries and fluctuating form, Riza is optimistic about his returning players.
He believes returning players can spark the sustained recovery they need to pull away from the bottom three – especially the input from Joe Ralls and Perry Ng, both of whom made valuable contributions off the bench in the Coventry match.
“Rallsy did exactly what I asked him to do—get in the way of things, make blocks, and stop through passes,” Riza said.
“And Perry came on and played at right centre-half and right wing-back when we switched to a back three.”
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