League badge means to the city

his strengths and weaknesses.

Ask his colleagues about training with him and there are knowing smiles but, as far as the man himself is concerned, training as you play is a key part of his preparation.

That directness comes across as he speaks about Swansea’s predicament ahead of their final two home games, starting tonight against Southampton, with survival on the line, and what it means to the city and the wider community.

“It is obviously different from when I was in Holland, the feeling is different,” he says.

“If you play for the title and it does not work out, you know there is a chance to make it work out the next season.

“If you are relegated, there is no next season, it can be your last day in the Premier League. That is big pressure.

“We are looking forward to it, we are not nervous, we want to finish the job.

“We know we are better at home, we should have also beaten Everton and got something against Chelsea.

“The Premier League badge is so important for the city, it means so much to the fans and it brings commercial elements and business to the area.”

It had looked at one stage as though Swansea would not need to go through these last-minute agonies, mid-way through April they had a five-point advantage over the bottom three.

But it has slowly dwindled away to nothing, with goal difference leaving them back in the bottom three with time running out.

The pressure is on, and there are no more second chances.

“If you don’t win in seven games then the gap will always close but we have two home games,” says Van der Hoorn, who is looking to overcome a groin problem to feature.

“It’s about attitude and mental strength, but it’s about being able to perform otherwise you don’t have anything. It’s a big mental test.

“We know if we play as we have done at home, perform like that, we are going to get results.”

If his team-mates share that sort of frank attitude with their centre-back, another season of Premier League football may just beckon.