Today's media round-up

21st August

The focus for the Swans is now on Thursday's Europa League tie with Romanian side Petrolul Ploiesti at the Liberty, and the media have gathered the thoughts of Pablo Hernandez and Michael Laudrup ahead of the game.
Spanish international Hernandez has spoken of the experience he has gained in European football during his time with Getafe and Valencia and how he feels it could benefit the Swans.
And Swans boss Laudrup has spoken of going up against a former player of his at Getafe - Cosmin Contra, who is now in charge of Ploiesti.


South Wales Evening Post
Hernandez: I can help guide Swans in the Europa League

Pablo Hernandez believes he can help guide Swansea City on their Europa League journey because of his vast experience of cross- border competition .
Swansea take on Romanian side Petrolul Ploiesti in a play-off round first-leg match at the Liberty tomorrow, with the overall winners  progressing to the tournament's group stages.
Hernandez has twice previously got as far as the quarter-finals in this competition, and also featured in Champions League campaigns while in Spain.
The winger was with Getafe, then managed by Michael Laudrup, as they reached the last eight of the Europa League's previous incarnation, the Uefa Cup, in 2008, before losing out to Bayern Munich.
And he got there again two years later, this time beaten by Atletico Madrid when playing for Valencia.
With those credentials, Hernandez reckons he has a responsibility to assist those in the Swansea squad who are sampling European football  for the first time.
"I think I can help the team and help the other players  having been in this competition before," he said.
"I played in the Europa League for two years and two years in the Champions League.
"I am not the only one, there are others here who know what it is like, so it is up to those with experience to make sure we help others because it is important for us.
"The most important thing is making sure we go to Romania with a good score, and if we can get to the groups anything is possible.
"It is an opportunity for us, but the most important thing is to first get through these two games and see where we can go."

Wales Online
Laudrup admits Swans face step into the unknown against Romanian opponents

Michael Laudrup admits Swansea City are set for a step into the unknown in Europe against Petrolul Ploiesti - even if there will be a familiar face the Romanian's ranks.
Laudrup is set to go up against one of his former players when the Romania cup winners head to the Liberty for tomorrow's Europa League play-off first leg, Cosmin Contra having starred under the Dane during their time at Getafe.
Ironically, the Romania international right-back was the goalscorer as the Spanish minnows threatened to shock Bayern Munich in the Europa League quarter-finals in 2008, a run that Laudrup wants to emulate with this Swans side.
Yet the Dane admits, that aside, the Swans could be punching in the dark as they try to inch towards the group stage - and warned not to expect the kind of easy progress found in the last round.
Swansea thumped Malmo 4-0 in the first leg of their third qualifying round, the game dead before they even travelled to Sweden.
But Laudrup warned: "People can't expect another 4-0. Even against Malmo, it was tight in the first half before we pulled away.
"And normally ties are settled in the second leg - that's why I always prefer to play the second leg at home.
"Plus, the big difference in this game is that I already knew some things about Malmo and Swedish football in general and I don't know much about Ploiesti.
"I didn't even know Cosmin was the manager there until I read about it after the draw.
"He was a right-back and a very good player for us at Getafe. He had a lot of experience with the Romania national team and scored in both games against Bayern Munich.
"So at least I know what to expect if they play like he played."