Source: Team_Talk
It's a daunting task, admits Jones
The Stamford Bridge clash comes at the end of a difficult week in the club's history in which they were given a 28-day stay of execution by the High Court after a second winding-up order over an unpaid tax bill was adjourned.[LNB]As hard as it may be with the threat of administration, Jones is trying to keep his and his players' focus on footballing matters as the Bluebirds challenge for promotion from the Championship and FA Cup glory. But that is where his own problems begin.[LNB]The importance of Cardiff's financial health meant planned January signings were put on hold, and subsequently the fragility of his squad is being tested to the maximum.[LNB]Captain Mark Hudson, Joe Ledley, Stephen McPhail, Miguel Comminges, Josh Magennis, Kelvin Etuhu and Tony Capaldi are all unavailable to face Chelsea due to injury and ineligibility, while key striker Jay Bothroyd (ankle) and midfielder Gavin Rae (hamstring) are also highly unlikely to feature.[LNB]Michael Chopra and Gabor Gyepes will be asked to play through illness, while Darcy Blake has shaken off a back problem in time.[LNB]The reigning FA Cup holders and Premier League leaders lie in wait but, nevertheless, a resilient Jones said: "You've got to believe you can get something, otherwise why are we turning up?[LNB]"It's going to be a daunting task, it's going to be very difficult, we can't even fill the bench.[LNB]"It's no good going there in a defeatist mood, it's a daunting task of course it is. Even if I had my full squad out then it'd still be a daunting task for us, but whoever plays has to go out there and do their stuff to the best of their ability.[LNB]"They're full of internationals; the team is littered with world class players. So that's something my players should be looking forward to."[LNB]He added: "We've got to go there with a lot of pride and determination in winning. We have to be confident, we have to be brave and we have to work our socks off because they will make us work and if we're not prepared to go run and chase and see whether something can happen then you'll never know.[LNB]"Miracles do come true sometimes."[LNB]In a strange twist of fate, Cardiff were narrowly beaten 1-0 in the 2008 cup final by Portsmouth, another club currently facing well-documented financial difficulties.[LNB]The immediate threat of administration and a 10-point deduction is not as large in South Wales as it is on the south coast due to the size of the debts involved.[LNB]But as Cardiff look for cup success, promotion and financial security, there is no doubt as to the number one concern in Jones' mind.[LNB]"This is a testing time for this football club," he said.[LNB]"We're fourth in the division, we're fighting every inch that there is, we're giving everything we've got and at the moment it's quite difficult to keep all that going.[LNB]"People thought I was joking when I said we're five points off safety (in the Championship) and that's our priority at this moment - to make sure we don't get out of this division."[LNB][LNB]
