Laudrup: Let's start off strong
Michael Laudrup says his side must kick off a busy schedule on the right note when Swansea City travel to Fulham on Saturday.
The Swans return to Barclays Premier League action this weekend, looking to bounce back from a disappointing 3-3 draw at home to Stoke City, a week prior to the international break.
Laudrup's side travel to Craven Cottage hoping to claim their third straight win at the London-based ground, having won 2-1 and 3-0 in their previous two visits.
With the festive period just around the corner, the games are set to come thick and fast for the Swans.
"I go to this game as the first game of 12 games in 43 days - nine games in the league, two games in Europe and one FA Cup game," said Laudrup.
"I know all managers - myself included - say that all the games are important but, for me, this is one of the most important games of our next 12.
"We have to take the fantastic second-half performance against Stoke into this game. It is so important that we bring that performance but, most importantly, get the result.
"We were so frustrated after the Stoke game because the players deserved to win, even more so than they did against Kuban.
"But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and I am definitely sure we will come back stronger.
"We have to collect some points over the next nine league games, then after the game against Aston Villa on December 28, we will be halfway through the season.
"We can then see how many points we have and how things are going."
Swansea enter Saturday's fixture without the likes of Michu, Pablo Hernandez and Garry Monk, who are all absent through injury.
However, Michel Vorm returns to the squad after serving a one-match suspension for the red card he was shown against Cardiff City.
"Garry Monk has had surgery and will be out for six weeks," said Laudrup.
"We knew that Michu would need a little more time - maybe, if we're lucky, less than first expected. The same goes for Pablo.
"But because we have so many games, we have to be careful not to pull one or two in too early.
"We need all of the players, especially for the coming six weeks, where everybody will play."
