Laudrup hoping to build on midweek win

9th December

Michael Laudrup has called on his side to take advantage of the confidence boost they received, after beating Newcastle 3-0 on Wednesday night, by starting an important week for the club with victory over Hull City.


The Swans face the gruelling task of three fixtures in six days, starting with the Barclays Premier League clash against Hull on Monday night (8pm), before a trip to St. Gallen on Thursday in the Europa League and a return to league action against Norwich on Sunday.


Should the Swans take positive results from all three fixtures, they could end the week with 21 points in the Premier League and qualification to the knockout phase of the Europa League secured.


And, in such an important week for the club, Laudrup is hoping his side can gather momentum at a busy point in the season.



"For me, it's a huge week for us," admitted the Swans boss. "If we can get points in the two league games, and we can move on to the knockout phase of the Europa League, it would be great.


"We have to fight for it because it will be three really tough games.


"There's so many Premier League games in a short time, you can move up or down very quickly.


"Every matchday there are surprises. Yesterday, we saw Newcastle win at Old Trafford. We saw Norwich struggling, two or three games ago, but now they have had two wins in three.


"It can change so quickly - up and down. When you have confidence, like our players have after the win on Wednesday, you have to take advantage of it. That's what we have to do this week."


The Swans start the week by hosting Hull at the Liberty Stadium for the very first time in the Premier League, ten years on from that famous 4-2 victory at the old Vetch, which ensured Swansea retained their Football League status.


And Laudrup realises that it will be an emotional occasion for both clubs, but believes that, when it comes to kick-off, both sides will treat the tie like any other Premier League fixture.


"It's a very special fixture for this club for obvious reasons, and with what has changed for these two clubs in ten years.


"There will be a lot of emotion with people in the stadium tomorrow, but when the game starts, it is just a Premier League game, which both teams want to win.


"I expect a very well organised team. I have seen four or five of their games. They never lose their organisation in midfield and defence, and they are very difficult to play against.


"We have to play quick, we have to move the ball around - and with a lot of patience.


"In one game, we can beat anybody, but they have 17 points and we have 18, so it's really a game that I would like to win for a lot of reasons - because we are playing at home, because we can move above 20 points and because we can leave a lot of teams behind."


Meanwhile, Laudrup also confirmed that the likes of Michu and Wilfried Bony had returned to training but was unsure whether or not they would be able to play a part in tonight's fixture.


"Bony and Michu have trained, which of course is good news, but we have three games in six days, so we have to be very careful.


"Hopefully, in a short time, they will be back, but if they can be back for tomorrow, I can't say.


"Alvaro [Vazquez] picked up his injury on Wednesday, so he won't be back."