Swansea success shows patience pays: Laudrup
‘Cup fitting reward for long-term strategy’
LONDON, Feb 25, (AFP): Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup believes his side’s emphatic League Cup final win over Bradford City was a fitting reward for the long-term strategy the club have pursued.
The south Wales side swept to a 5-0 victory over their fourth-tier opponents at Wembley Stadium on Sunday to mark their centenary year with a first major trophy.
As a Premier League side, Swansea went into the game as overwhelming favourites, but 10 years ago they were in a position not dissimilar to Bradford’s, narrowly avoiding relegation from the Football League in 2003.
In later years, as Swansea climbed the English league pyramid, the club developed a reputation for playing attractive football under successive coaches Roberto Martinez, Paulo Sousa and Brendan Rodgers.
Laudrup took over when Rodgers left for Liverpool last year and the former Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid playmaker believes the club’s maiden trophy success owes much to the work put in before he arrived.
“The philosophy has been there for the last six to seven years and it makes it easier because every time you get a manager with the same philosophy, you look for the same kind of player,” he said.
“You don’t have to change four or five players in the starting XI like you see at other clubs, when you change completely from one type of manager to the next.
“If you look at it economically, in terms of money, it’s a very good thing to do as well.”
Bradford were the first team from England’s fourth division to reach the League Cup final since Rochdale in 1962 and although the occasion ultimately got the better of them, Laudrup said their achievements deserved to be remembered.
“To have the trophy is great, but the way we did it — 5-0, I don’t have the numbers for possession, but I think they had their first shot on target after 85 minutes and only won two corners,” said the Dane.
“That says a lot about our performance. We all know what Bradford did against Wigan, against Arsenal, in the two games against Aston Villa, against Watford as well.
“What they have done is absolutely outstanding and I think this final will remain in history, a small part because of us and a large part because of Bradford. I’m so happy for the way we did it.”