Calum Chambers spoke to the press to preview Thursday’s clash at Port Vale.
The City captain returns to eligibility following his suspension for our opening day victory over Peterborough United.
“I’m ready to go and excited to get started having missed the first game," Calum said. "I’m buzzing to get my season started."
“Personally, it was frustrating because you want to be involved, but I was just really excited to watch the boys, see all the fans, I thought the atmosphere was amazing. I was buzzing for the whole day, to be honest.
“The manager’s been amazing since he’s come in. I think pre-season has gone really well. Everyone is buzzing and the boys are really excited.
"The style that we’re playing and the identity we have, it works amazingly with the group and the players that we have. I feel there’s a real identity about us and a path for us going forward in the way that we want to play. The vibe around the place is really good.
“It was really nice [to be named captain]. When I found out, it’s a nice feeling that the players think that way of you. It’s a new challenge and a new role for me. I’ve not had it before. I feel I’m at a time in my career which is a good time for it. It’s like a new challenge for me, so I’m looking forward to it."
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In our 2-1 victory over Peterborough United this past Saturday, the starting eleven featured only one player over the age of 23, with 18-year-old right-back Ronan Kpakio netting the winner.
Calum continued: “It’s a credit to the squad, the boys and the Academy we have here. That was another reason why I was so excited to watch the game at the weekend, because of how young the squad was.
"The boys were brilliant, they all had an opportunity and they all took it. We have a really young squad, but a talented squad and that’s what’s exciting about the project and the season ahead.
“I think it’s so important for every club to have that. There needs to be a pathway for the young players through to the First Team, otherwise they won’t get an opportunity.
"The manager, what he’s come in and said, which is to train hard in order to be able to play, that just shows the young boys that if they train hard, they will get their opportunity and then it’s up to them to take it.
"It reflects in the weekend that a lot of them got their opportunity and they took it well."
Thursday evening's opponents began their campaign with a 2-1 defeat at Rotherham United. As City travel to Vale Park, there will be over 2,000 fans.
“It’s going to be a test," Calum added. "Going away there, they’re going to have a lot of energy, and we need to be ready for that. I’m looking forward to it and I know the whole squad will be ready and raring to go again.
“The support is massively important. They travel in numbers and they really help, especially in away games. You really do feel it on the pitch.
"The game at the weekend, the atmosphere was incredible, the fans really turned out for us. It’s going to be massive this season with what we want to achieve, having them behind us and with us is key. I’m looking forward to seeing them on Thursday.”
Watch more from Calum and Brian Barry-Murphy on Cardiff City TV!