Gerhard: Let's look forward
17th February
Gerhard Tremmel says the Swans must forget their FA Cup exit and turn their attention to Thursday's Europa League tie against Napoli.
Swansea bowed out of the competition at the fifth round stage following a 3-1 defeat against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Lacina Traore netted just four minutes into his debut to give Roberto Martinez's men a perfect start, but Jonathan de Guzman levelled with a fine header.
However, a mistake from Neil Taylor allowed Steven Naismith to restore Everton's lead before Leighton Baines tucked home a penalty to seal their place in the quarter-finals and an away tie with Arsenal.
The Swans must now prepare for the return of the Europa League as Napoli visit the Liberty on Thursday for the first leg of their last 32 clash, and Tremmel insists the focus must now shift to European matters.
"Naturally, it was disappointing to lose because we wanted to go further in the FA Cup," he said. "When you beat a side like Manchester United in an earlier round then you start to believe what might be possible.
"This was the fifth round, and it was a chance to get into the quarter-finals.
"We tasted success in a cup competition last season, and it would have been nice to do the same this year. But we are still in the Europa League and we have to look ahead to Thursday's game now.
"It promises to be a great occasion at the Liberty, Napoli are having a good season in Italy and we're under no illusions about how tough it is going to be.
"But we'll be focussed, we'll prepare well and we want to get a good result ahead of the second leg."
Tremmel was one of eight changes to the Swans side at Goodison Park that earned a draw with Stoke just four days earlier.
Garry Monk opted to rest a number of players ahead of another hectic round of games, and the German goalkeeper believes that the squad has what it takes to compete in both the Premier League and European competition.
"Even though we made changes, I thought we played a good game," said Tremmel. "The players that came in wanted to do well and we were well in the game until the second goal.
"There wasn't a lot of chances at either end and they weren't putting us under any real pressure. Everton are a good team and it is always a difficult place to get a result.
"We said at the start of the season that we had a good squad, and I haven't seen anything to change that view."
