In many respects, Kenneth Zohore was one of the most influential players Cardiff have had in recent years and he left a Kenneth Zohore shaped hole in the side when he left. Having left West Brom in January, he’s now back in his native Denmark and took the time out to speak to me recently.
In your youth, you were considered something of a footballing prodigy, playing Under-19 football at 15 and playing in the Champions League at 16. You then bounced around a lot as a teenager, playing in both Italy and Sweden. How did you find the disruption and the pressure of being such a highly regarded prospect?
I didn’t find it hard at the time. I moved a lot as a young guy, but it was fine. Of course, you feel pressure, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. It didn’t affect me in a bad way at any time.
Your move to Cardiff was slightly strange because it was via KV Kortrijk, another club owned by Cardiff owner Vincent Tan. Was the plan always to head straight out to Cardiff, or were you expecting to play in Belgium?
The plan was always to go straight to Cardiff on loan and then sign permanently in the summer. Going to Belgium was never part of the plan. Cardiff is a nice place. I also come from a big city, although it was a bit smaller than Copenhagen. It was a bit strange joining mid-season. It was better in the summer when I had a full pre-season with the team, but we didn’t do very well at the start, but then Neil Warnock came in and I started playing again.
The Championship is a very intense, physically demanding league. A player with your physical attributes, as strong and quick as you are, was built for the division, but did you find it hard to adapt?
I thought the league in general was very physical compared to where I had played before. Even though I’m big, I needed to be more physical and use my physical presence. I had to learn how to use my power and every ball was like a fight.
As you say, your Cardiff career really took off under Neil Warnock, who was both your biggest fan and harshest critic at times. What was your relationship like with him? He seemed to really get the best out of you.
It was a love/hate relationship and it was either very good or very bad, with no in between. When it was bad, we didn’t really speak very often, which was the case towards the end of the Premier League season, and I didn’t understand why. It then went well again in the pre-season before I left and I was looking to stay. I think I left on good terms with him though.
There was a point where Warnock criticised your application and he seemed to give you an ultimatum. It was presented as that you would be sold if you didn’t show signs of improvement and you really kicked on from there. How did that play out?
I think we were playing Wolves at home. We were losing 1-0 and he said he would give me 45 minutes to show what I can do. I knew there were already talks about me going out on loan, but we ended up winning that game and I think I had an assist. A few months later, I ended up signing a new contract. I think that was the best I’ve ever played and the best goal I scored was the one at home against Preston.
Cardiff were promoted to the Premier League, which was completely unexpected and must have been a dream for you. At the start of the season, you were the focal point of the attack and it felt like everything had fallen into place for you, but injuries disrupted your season. What were the problems you faced and how do you remember that season?
There were a few niggly injuries. One in my calf and a few in my quads, which was annoying because I never really got up to speed. I was disappointed at the time, but you move on and keep going. The same thing that happened in the Premier League season basically happened for the three-and-a-half years at West Brom. I would have an injury and as soon as I made it back, a new injury.
You scored the winning goal at Southampton and appeared to mouth ‘I’m back’ to the Cardiff fans. That must have been a great feeling. What was behind what you said?
I just thought that I was back scoring goals and would get a run of games, but I didn’t start the next game, which was very disappointing for me.
Like a lot of players, you left Cardiff the following summer. It was a sum of money that the club could not afford to turn down, but it sounds like you were keen to stay.
I started off wanting to move on because my relationship with the manager was a bit shaky, but like I said, during pre-season, it felt like it was getting better and better, so then I wanted to stay. When we were in America, I heard that a bid had come in and they had accepted it, so I ended up leaving.
Your West Brom contract was terminated in January and you returned to Odense, the club you initially joined Cardiff from, taking your career full circle. Were you keen to return to Denmark and how have you found being back?
I wouldn’t say I was keen to return to Denmark. I joined because I had been at this club before and liked it. I don’t think I would have joined any other club in Denmark. I had a few other options, including some to stay in England.
You recently turned 29, but have been playing senior football since you were 16, so have already had a substantial career. How do you feel physically and how is your current form and fitness?
If the manager picks me, I’m available. We’ve played five games and I haven’t started yet, but I’ve had a few minutes and I’m ready. I’ve felt good the last few months, after being injured so much. I feel very good physically and I’m hoping because I’ve had so many injuries, that I can get back the time I’ve lost.
I know you’re contracted until the end of the season. What are your hopes for the remainder of the season and beyond?
I don’t know yet. I’m from Denmark, so I see myself living here when I finish playing, but I hope that’s no time soon.