Malky Mackay’s sure Cardiff can make grade

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay has no problem dealing with the expectations of owner Vincent Tan after breaking the club transfer record three times this summer.

The Welsh side make their Barclays Premier League bow at West Ham today, 51 years after their last top-flight outing. Malaysian businessman Tan vowed to back Mackay on transfers after the club secured promotion in April, and he has kept his word.

Danish striker Andreas Cornelius, Tottenham defender Steven Caulker and Sevilla midfielder Gary Medel have each raised Cardiff’s record outlay, while John Brayford and Simon Moore have joined from Derby and Brentford respectively.

Tan has made it clear he expects a return on his investment, with Mackay still looking for further additions. But the Scot is comfortable with the pressures that go with the expenditure.

“He (Tan) has expected results from last summer,” he said. “When I was offered the job, it was a three-year plan. His task for me was to be promoted last summer.

“That’s expectation, that’s pressure, so I have had that. Football managers are under pressure every week. I’ve broken the transfer record three times, but it’s where we are as a club. It’s not about looking back, it’s about making sure we keep striving to push forward. The club has come a huge distance in a short space of time relatively, with help from a lot of people over a long period to get us to this point.

“But as far as myself and my staff are concerned we want to keep striving and make the club better in terms of facilities, the staff we bring in and the players we bring in and we have to try and get the best players here. I won’t apologise for that and I will take my time and do it in the way I think is best for this football club.”