Chico excited for challenge ahead
31st May
Chico Flores says he is relishing the challenges that lie ahead for Swansea City next season.
Michael Laudrup's side finished in the top half of the Premier League and lifted the Capital One Cup, which means they will now participate in next year's Europa League.
It will be the first time that the club has competed in European competition for a number of years.
And Chico, who has now played in the top division in Spain, Italy and England, is firmly looking forward to another exciting season in SA1.
"Next season will be even more important for us with the league and Europa League," he said.
"Hopefully we can build on this season's success, continue to improve and do the best we can in Europe."
The Spaniard arrived at the Liberty last summer from Genoa in a deal worth around £2 million.
He went on to form a solid defensive partnership with Ashley Williams as the Swans followed up their success of a debut season in the Premier League.
But it was Chico's appetite off the pitch - as well as on it - that made him a firm favourite with the Jack Army.
After injury ruled him out of the Capital One Cup final at Wembley, Chico rushed onto the field at the final whistle draped in a Spanish flag and mimicking a matador.
And with a first full season in English football under his belt, he looked back fondly at the past 12 months and insisted that the club will need to strengthen ahead of competing on four fronts come August.
"I'm very happy with the season on a whole, but the Fulham game (a 3-0 defeat on the final day of the season) was not good enough," said Chico.
"It is important that we now look back at the year in total and it was a very good one for both the players and team.
"Next season will be very tough with the four competitions. It will be more of a physical toll on the team with the Thursday and Sunday games.
"It's important that our concentration is always right because we need to take the maximum points possible in both competitions.
"We will definitely need more players to cope with the extra matches. That is normal for any team."
