Michael O’Neill makes telling Stoke City admission after Cardiff City defeat

Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill has admitted he is probably not in the best position to answer whether or not he can turn things around at the club following their defeat to Cardiff City.

The Potters were beaten by two goals to one in South Wales on Wednesday night, leaving them 16th in the Championship table and without a league win in their last eight.

When asked in his post-match press conference if he was convinced he could turn things around, O’Neill made the following admission.

“It’s probably not a question given what I saw tonight I’m in the best position to answer,” he told StokeonTrentLive.

“We’re in a situation where we’ve had to change a lot at the club and we’ve done that with the intention of making the club better and trying to challenge.

“When you look at it tonight we probably have too many loan players in our team but that’s the situation that Financial Fair Play dictates to a club in our situation,” O’Neill continued, reflecting on Stoke’s squad building.

“We’re not in a position to spend money nor high wages. We ultimately end up in situation when we have to go into the loan market and bring in younger, talented players who are a little inexperienced at times.

“That’s the parameters within which we have to build the team.”

Stoke City’s season is now in danger of petering out, with the club finding themselves in mid-table with little to play for as the season comes to a close.

The Potters had started the season promisingly under O’Neill, winning four of their first six in the Championship, but in recent months, any hopes of a top six finish have faded away.

Despite the fact O’Neill is already looking ahead to next season, he says Stoke must finish this campaign strongly in order to lift the mood