Cardiff huddle

Steve Cooper | We have a chance to make history, we want to embrace it

18th March
First team

Steve Cooper wants Swansea City to embrace the chance to make South Wales derby history when they host Cardiff City on Saturday.

The Swans take on the Bluebirds at the Liberty Stadium knowing a victory would make them the first side in the 109-year history of the fixture to complete a league double.

The two clubs have been in the same division in 32 seasons in that time, but no-one has ever sealed home and away wins in the same campaign.

Head coach Cooper was keen to point out that no extra incentive is needed when it comes to taking on local rivals.

But he acknowledged the chance to make history just adds to the motivation to get a positive result.

“It’s an opportunity, it’s something to be thrived on and not something to back down from,” he said.

“We all know this is as big as it gets in South Wales, let’s not play it down or shirk the question.

Swansea City squad

“In terms of football in this part of the world, it does not get any bigger domestically. No matter wherever you play the game, the league positions or the form, it all goes out the window.

“We know it is important, as these derbies always are, and we have to use it as motivation to go and win.

“We have to focus on what it takes to win, but the main driver is the importance of trying to get the right result.

“We want to win the game and that is all we are focusing on. Whenever you play these games, nothing else comes into it than the game itself.

“We are very away of how important the game is, we have been as a group since I have been here and that will continue to be the case.

“But we know it is not just about the football club, but the city and the community too.

“We represent them with pride and ambition, and we want to do that again on Saturday.”