Garry Monk aiming for positive end to the season against Sunderland
9th May
Garry Monk is aiming to end the season on a high after being appointed as Swansea City's first-team manager this week.
The new Swans boss takes charge of his first game since signing a three-year deal with the club when his side visit the Stadium of Light to play Sunderland in the final game of the 2013-14 Premier League campaign.
Both sides go into the final day of the season with their top-flight safety ensured, but Monk insists his side won't be taking their foot off the gas when they make the trip to the North East.
And after declaring his recent appointment as the "proudest moment" of his career, Monk again expressed his pride in becoming the new Swans boss but insists his immediate focus is on this weekend's match.
"I feel very honoured," said Monk. "It's something I've always dreamed about doing.
"I will try my very best like I have been doing for the ten years I've been here. I have a plan of what I want to do and how to go about it, which is what I've been speaking to the Chairman about.
"I have always thought about the best teams I've played in here and the principles we have stuck to. It's about doing that as well as adding my own take on them.
"I want to take this club forward. It's not just about restoring the principles; it's about improving on them.
"We have done a lot of planning already for next season, and we have a full summer and pre-season to prepare, which will be of huge benefit to us.
"But my immediate focus is on this weekend's game. We really want to finish off with a positive result for our fans.
"We were disappointed to concede late on against Southampton, in a game where we deserved at least a point.
"To come away from the game with nothing was hard to take, so we need a reaction. That's what we've been working on all this week.
"We want to finish as high in the league as possible. We are in for a very tough match, but one that we are very much looking forward to."
