'Amazing' EFL Cup draw must not distract Cardiff

Brian Barry-Murphy says Cardiff City's Carabao Cup quarter-final home draw against Chelsea is "amazing", but has warned it cannot be a distraction for his team.

After beating Welsh rivals Wrexham on Tuesday, the Bluebirds will now face the five-time winners at the Cardiff City Stadium in the week commencing 15 December.

But the manager does not want his team to lose focus between now and then, with his team currently third in League One.

Before they return to chasing promotion back to the Championship, Cardiff travel to Peterborough United on Saturday in the FA Cup first round (15:00 GMT).

"Chelsea at home is a great opportunity for all of our supporters to attend a game against a team who are the world champions and possess so many world-class players," Barry-Murphy said.

"It's going to be a great occasion when it comes round.

"I think it's an amazing draw for the club but it seems so far off in the distance, based on how long it's going to be until we actually play that game.

"I think it probably reinforces more than ever that we have to focus on the now and prepare for Saturday."

The quarter-finals are the furthest Cardiff have reached since losing to Liverpool in the final at Wembley in 2012.

The Bluebirds are the only side from outside the Premier League to reach the quarter-finals.

"It's an amazing draw against an amazing team, an amazing club," Barry-Murphy added.

"But for the players, they'll just be focused on training today, training tomorrow and trying to prepare for Saturday.

"We never look further than today, one day at a time, because of how important it is.

"Over the past seven days, you've seen the nature of football and the ups and downs.

"You go from Saturday at Bolton to Tuesday at Wrexham.

"So we just have to remain consistent in the way that we train and try and play."

Cardiff have one of the youngest average squad ages in the English Football League (EFL) and defender Perry Ng says the players are relishing the opportunity to take the game to Chelsea.

"I think if we can get our place bouncing, I'm sure Brian won't tell us to take a step back," Ng said.

"I'm sure we'll go at them full force like we have been doing to other teams and see what happens.

"The group chat was bouncing, so yeah, I'm buzzing to go in and see them all and see what everyone thinks.

"I went to watch the Wales game the other day and the atmosphere was bouncing.

"Even the Swansea games we've had previously, the stadium's unreal, the atmosphere is class and it gives you that extra buzz on the pitch.

"So I can't wait to get out there hopefully and... go at them full force like I said and see what happens."