'A positive start'

Federico Fernandez says Graham Potter has made a positive impression after Swansea City kicked off preparations for the new Championship campaign.

The Swans trained for the first time under their new boss today as the build-up to next month’s league opener at Sheffield United began in earnest.

Potter met his players for the first time yesterday having agreed to lead the Swans’ bid to return to the Premier League following relegation last season.

And Fernandez, who captained the Swans for much of 2017-18, reckons the former Ostersund boss has made a good start to life at the Liberty.

“The manager spoke in a meeting to introduce himself and he spoke to us individually as well,” the central defender said.

“He talked about his ideas and also about the situation of each player.

“Now every day we will work on the pitch with the manager’s ideas. We have to get used to what he wants.

“We all need to improve under the new manager and we are all looking forward to working with him. He has made a positive start.”

The Swans are back in the second tier after spending the last seven seasons playing Premier League football.

And though relegation was hard to take, Fernandez says Potter’s squad are refreshed and ready to fight for a return to the highest level.

“The mood is good,” he added.

“We have all had some time with friends and family. Our minds are refreshed and we are all back and ready to work hard and look forward to the new season.

“Everyone is happy to be back working together again and trying to produce a good season.

“I hope this season will be better for us. In football you have another chance to show you can play well and compete and we will try to do that in the Championship so we can get back to the Premier League.”