Mick McCarthy's simple magic leaves Cardiff fans spellbound | Ben Fisher

Manager is using all his years of experience to turn Championship strugglers into play-off contenders

Listening to those who have lived amid Cardiff City’s miraculous upturn since Mick McCarthy took charge last month, the common denominator is that he has simplified things, his first day in the job a prime example. “There was no big, long speech,” says the midfielder Will Vaulks. “It was just: ‘Listen. I’m here to try and improve you. I know how good you are. I want to get the best out of you.’ It was 30 seconds of introduction and ‘let’s get on the pitch and improve’.”

McCarthy has got to work in double time and galvanised Cardiff, taking 17 points from a possible 21. For context of how remarkable a response McCarthy has elicited, on the day he was appointed Cardiff trailed Bournemouth by 13 points and were 15th in the table following seven defeats in eight matches. Last weekend Cardiff put four goals past Preston and on Wednesday they travel to Bournemouth knowing that with victory they could jump into sixth spot at their hosts’ expense. McCarthy has given Cardiff an unlikely route to the play-offs by resurrecting a faltering side.

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from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/24/mick-mccarthy-cardiff-city-championship-football