Brian Barry-Murphy Plays Down Strasbourg Links and Reaffirms Commitment to Cardiff City

Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has sought to calm speculation about his future after reports suggested he could be a candidate for a managerial role in France. Speaking after Cardiff’s latest match, Barry-Murphy played down links to Ligue 1 club Strasbourg and instead emphasised his commitment to the Bluebirds, describing his “love” for the club and his enjoyment of the role.

The reports, which originated in France, claimed Barry-Murphy was among the people Strasbourg are considering as a potential successor if their current head coach Liam Rosenior were to leave. Rosenior has been mentioned in connection with Chelsea, with the former Hull head coach described as the leading contender to succeed Enzo Maresca, who departed from Chelsea earlier this month.

Reports in France and the wider context

The speculation around Strasbourg is tied to a broader chain of potential managerial movement. According to the reports, Strasbourg’s planning would be influenced by whether Rosenior takes up a new position. Strasbourg are owned by the investment vehicle BlueCo, the consortium established to purchase Chelsea in 2022, which adds an additional layer of interest given the parallel discussion about the Chelsea vacancy.

However, when asked directly about the reports linking him to Strasbourg, Barry-Murphy’s response was straightforward and focused on his current job. “I don’t know. I love Cardiff,” he said. “I love being at Cardiff, I love it. I feel very lucky to be here.”

Barry-Murphy’s focus remains on Cardiff City

Rather than engage with speculation, Barry-Murphy used the moment to underline his satisfaction with Cardiff and the work currently being done. He also suggested that the conversation around outside interest was not something he had been tracking closely.

“I didn’t really know about it [the speculation], that’s for sure,” he added, before returning to the theme of performance and development. His comments reflected a consistent message: that Cardiff’s progress is the priority and that the coaching staff and players are concentrating on improvement rather than distractions.

Barry-Murphy has enjoyed an excellent first six months at Cardiff, a period that has seen the club rise to the top of League One while adopting a more attacking style of play. Cardiff maintained their three-point lead at the summit of the table with a 1-0 home victory over Wigan Athletic on Sunday, a result that helped reinforce their position during a demanding run of fixtures.

Results, momentum, and a demanding schedule

In assessing Cardiff’s recent form, Barry-Murphy highlighted both the outcomes and the process behind them. He pointed to the team’s record across a busy 10-day period as a source of gratitude and encouragement, while also indicating that there is still room for growth.

“I think we can improve a lot, and the players are also very excited,” he said. “To win three and draw one of our four games in this 10-day period is something that I’m very grateful for.”

That combination—strong results paired with an emphasis on continuous improvement—has been a recurring element of Barry-Murphy’s approach. Even while Cardiff sit top of the league, he framed the current position as a platform rather than a finish line, reinforcing the idea that maintaining standards and pushing forward matters more than reacting to external narratives.

“We just focus on ourselves”

Barry-Murphy’s comments after the Wigan match repeatedly returned to internal focus. In his view, the most productive response to rumours is to keep attention on training, performance, and the day-to-day work required to sustain momentum over a long season.

“We just focus on ourselves and try to keep improving all the time,” he said. He also praised the group he is working with, expressing appreciation for the players and the environment at the club.

“I’m so pleased with the players and how they are doing that. I feel very lucky to be with them,” he added.

Background and coaching experience

Barry-Murphy’s coaching background includes roles at Manchester City and Leicester before he joined Cardiff. That experience has been noted alongside Cardiff’s early-season progress, with the team’s league position and style of play providing the immediate context for why his name might surface in wider discussions.

Still, his public stance is clear: he is not fuelling the speculation. Instead, he is reiterating his satisfaction at Cardiff and directing attention to what the team can control—performances, development, and the pursuit of further improvement as the season continues.

• Barry-Murphy said he “loves” Cardiff and feels “very lucky” to be at the club.
• Reports suggested Strasbourg could consider him if Liam Rosenior leaves.
• Cardiff remain top of League One, holding a three-point lead after a 1-0 win over Wigan.
• Barry-Murphy highlighted a strong run of fixtures: three wins and one draw in a 10-day period.

For now, Barry-Murphy’s message is that Cardiff City’s trajectory is the priority. With the Bluebirds leading League One and continuing to build under his guidance, he has signalled that his attention remains firmly on the club’s ongoing progress rather than on reported interest from elsewhere.