Melker Widell | I feel like I've made some signficiant steps
Melker Widell believes he has made significant steps forward since joinig Swansea City, and is keen to help the club build on an encouraging start to the season.
The Swedish midfielder has become an important part of Vitor Matos’ side, with his energy and pressing helping the Swans to a record breaking start to the new campaign.
The 24-year-old has featured in nine of Swansea’s opening 11 league games and feels he has developed and adapted well since the Portuguese head coach arrived last November.
“It’s been good. I think I’ve developed since last year, physically, and I think I’m feeling a lot better on the pitch ever since the gaffer came in last season. I feel like I’ve been taking significant steps,” he said.
“I’ve always been a player who runs a lot. Now, since I came to the Championship, I’ve been spending a lot of time in the gym as well to try to get a little bit bigger and a little bit more physical. I think that’s helped a lot as well because there are so many duels.
“It's always been non-negotiable for me to put in the effort. You can have a day off technically, and maybe the passes aren't there or the shots aren't there, but you can always do your work for the team. That's also been emphasised by the gaffer since he's come in.
“The ticket to play here is doing the counter-press, and if you do the counter-press well, then you’ll get some minutes.
“So I’m happy that it shows that I put myself out there and bring my energy. Now it’s about doing more with it. I feel like I’ve been able to do more with it this season.”
Now in his second season at the club, Widell is eager to make his mark in the final third, having registered two assists so far this season.
And after picking up some promising positions so far this season, he believes that if he keeps getting in theose right positions, he's confident his first Swansea goal wont be far away.
“I know it’s going to come at some point because I’m doing the right things in the final third,” he added.
“It’s all well as long as the team is doing well and I feel like I’m in the right positions. Somehow, it’s going to come.
“I’ve had two assists this season so far, so that’s also in the final third and contributes. Hopefully, that goal will come soon.”
Widell and his team-mates will now look to respond following last weekend’s home defeat against West Ham United when they travel to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
The Swans remain top of the Championship table, and the midfielder believes a positive response could provide another important step in their development.
“This week is a really big week for us, since we’re playing against QPR, which is a really good team, away from home,” he continued.
"It’s going to be a really tough test. They’ve had a really good start to the season and have developed well since last year.
“If we can bounce back against QPR, that will be another answer to our own questions.
“We have in our minds that, we lost against West Ham at home, and that was a bit of a blow. Now, can we go back and pick up another three points? That would be a really good answer.”