Liverpool fans joined the travelling army from south Wales to appreciate Malky Mackay after Brendan Rogers’ side beat Cardiff City 3-1 today.
With the threat of the the sack hanging over him Mackay took to the pitch at the end of the match to acknowledge and return the backing that he had received throughout the match from the Cardiff fans.
Since Thursday night it has been a matter of when rather than if Mackay will be dismissed after it was revealed that maverick owner Vincent Tan had sent an email telling his manager to resign or be sacked.
Mackay missed Friday’s pre-match media conference but travelled with the team to Liverpool and was typically resilient after the match.
“The supporters have been immense since day one, two-and-a-half years ago,” he explained. “This season they have shown everyone what a class act they are on their travels or back in south Wales.
“They have shown they are a great addition to the Premier League and I hope it stays that way. I am very humbled that our fans have taken to myself and my staff and the team.
“They are very passionate people who love football and they desperately want success.
“When we got to the Carling Cup at Wembley I saw 40,000 going bananas. They should really be enjoying the Premier League season but there have been situations for non-footballing reasons which have been in the press and that is why earlier in the season I apologised for what they have had to put up with.
“I am proud of the job and the association I have (with the club) and I couldn’t walk away from the people who work for me: training ground staff, coaching staff, staff at the stadium, that group of players who I have so much respect for and also the fans.
“I am not going to walk away from them either.”
Mackay was assistant to Rogers for a short spell at Watford with the Irishman sympathetic to the situation the Cardiff boss finds himself in.
With the threat of the the sack hanging over him Mackay took to the pitch at the end of the match to acknowledge and return the backing that he had received throughout the match from the Cardiff fans.
“I spent some time with Malky last night,” Rodgers said.
“Football aside it was difficult because he loves Cardiff, he loves being there and the job he has done there is remarkable.
“He is a very proud man, he is proud of how that club has come together and it is sad for me to see it.
“He is an outstanding manager and the dignity he has shown has been remarkable.
“But he is a strong character and if one guy feels he needs to make a change then so be it – he is losing the best manager they have had in their history.
“We all know as managers the sack is just around the corner in the modern game, you have to keep winning games and show progress otherwise you are out of a job.
“This is a cut-throat business and you can lose your job very quickly but it is hard to accept someone losing their job when they have done such a good job,
“The sadness for him (Mackay) is it is nothing to do with that.”
After the match the Cardiff fans remained inside Anfield for 30 minutes chanting: “Don’t sack Mackay, Malky Mackay, I just don’t think you understand.”
Good article,Joe.
Big Malky is a class act.
He is well respected in the game, and
comes across as a sincere and well- grounded person.
Unlike his bambot owner.The man with
the high-waisted trousers has no respect
for the football culture here.
Well done Brendan Rogers, a good Celtic
man, coming out in support for Malky.
Great from the Liverpool fans for clapping at end u might have won the game bt the cardiff fans were exceptional throughout u would of thought it was played in cardiff with that noise
Football is mental these days, the game is about players & fans, that’s what it’s meant to be!
Give us our game back!