Neil Warnock has revealed how he told former Chelsea and Liverpool star Victor Moses a game against Cardiff City was “his last chance to impress” while at Crystal Palace.
While Warnock is adored for his exploits during his time in charge of Cardiff between 2016 and 2019, there was of course a time before he took the reins when he was plotting the Bluebirds' downfall. And one night when he was in charge of Palace stands out as one of his most proud memories.
Speaking to David Prutton on his League of 72 podcast, ex-Cardiff boss Warnock has said how the former Nigeria international “never used to track back” so had to change his game.
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“We were playing Cardiff one night, chucking it down with rain," he said. "I took him on the pitch and said ‘Victor, you’ve got so much going for you and yet you're not going to make anything. Go out there and show me what you can do.’
“We won 1-0 and he was man of the match. I went onto the pitch after and put my arm round him and said welcome to the real world.
“A few years later he went onto Chelsea and to play for Nigeria - he played in the African Cup of Nations and won player of the tournament. After one game I text him and within four minutes I got a reply.
“He text me saying: 'I’ll never forget Cardiff'.
“That’s why I’m in the game, I’m getting goosebumps even now. He could have gone the other way and played non-league if not.”
Moses left Crystal Palace to play for Wigan Athletic in the Premier League before moving to Chelsea. There, he won two Premier Leagues, an FA Cup and a UEFA Europa League. He also spent time on loan at clubs like Liverpool, Inter Milan, West Ham and Spartak Moscow where he still plays to this day.
Warnock also spoke about how he is still in regular contact with Wales manager Rob Page, whom he managed at Sheffield United.
“I love Rob," Warnock said of Page. "He’s a studious lad as well. You always knew he would be a good manager - I know the circumstances kind of pushed him into it.
"I’ve always wanted him to do well and to qualify [for the World Cup] was unbelievable. I know he would have been disappointed in how they performed there. I have a lot of time for Rob.”
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