We have to ‘go for it’ is boss’ message to Swans

SWANS V LEEDS BUILD-UP

STEVE Cooper has urged his Swansea City players to have no regrets as they continue their pursuit for a top-six spot in the Championship against Leeds United this weekend.

The Swans closed the gap to the play-off places to just one point on Wednesday night by beating Birmingham City 3-1 at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium.

The first of their final four games see the Swans take on league leaders Leeds at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow afternoon (1.30pm).

And head coach Cooper says his side have nothing to fear as they look to keep their chances of playing Premier League football next term alive by securing a top six place in the coming weeks.

“Let’s go for things, not just now where we are but since we’ve come back.

“Let’s have no regrets. There’s everything to be excited about and nothing to be fearful of,” he said.

“We’ve all watched Championship games and have seen some of those at the bottom end of the league, and that’s when it’s really tough and you can really be playing with fear.

“For us it should be about thriving, taking opportunities and being excited with what’s in front of us, and that’s definitely the mentality that we’ve got.”

Having secured back-to-back wins for the first time since December ahead of the clash with Marcelo Bielsa’s side, Swansea are now four points better off now than they were at the same stage last season.

However, Cooper admits his sole focus is on Swansea’s promotion bid and improving the club as a whole for the long term.

“The season’s not finished and I’m not really interested in anyone getting credit, apart from the football club,” he added.

“That’s the most important thing, the status of the football club and what it’s trying to do, both on and off the pitch.

“It’s not something I’ve thought about, and it’s certainly not a motivation of mine.

“I just want to work as hard as I can first and foremost, I want to work in the way I believe, with players and staff, and we’ll see where it takes us in the long term.”

Swansea have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the clash with Leeds.

Ben Cabango (hernia) and Mike van der Hoorn (knee) will continue to be carefully managed during the run-in.

Jordon Garrick is available again after serving a three-game ban following the red card he was issued in the 1-0 loss to Luton Town last month.

TOMORROW promises to be an enormous test of Swansea’s credentials, with Leeds United warming up for the game at the Liberty Stadium (1.30pm) by thrashing Stoke City 5-0 at Elland Road.

Manager Steve Cooper is relishing the task of taking on Marcelo Bielsa’s men and here’s all he had to say as he spoke to the press yesterday...

Team news?

Steve Cooper: “No fresh injuries from Wednesday so we got through that unscathed. Jordan Garrick is back from suspension.

“The long term injuries in Joe and Ben Wilmot continue, so the only change is that Jordon Garrick is available.”

Play-off? SC:

“I think everyone can say that, they just want to look after themselves and win games.

“Every round of games, the picture will change. It’s definitely getting tighter.

“The mentality and mindset stays the same for us.”

Form?

SC: “What’s a rich vein of form, it’s about five or six games.

“We won the last two and had a hard game at Millwall.

“I wouldn’t say we’re in a rich vein of form, but we’re aiming for it. It’s good timing to do that.”

Approach?

SC: “No change in our approach.

“Our focus is always on ourselves first and how we can win the game, dominate the performance, but at the same time respect who you’re playing and what their strengths are.

“I think you have to have the same approach to every game. In terms of how we review and prepare it’s business as usual really.”

Good response since the restart?

SC: “We’re doing some good things. I don’t think much has changed at the training ground, from day one really.

“We believe in how we work and what we do. We’ll stick with that.

“Of course you need to evolve and tweak things from time to time, but we’ll never get too high or too low.

“It’s only three games unbeaten, and if you don’t take it into the remaining four games it means nothing.

“For us it’s just about carrying on and building on some of the things happening at the moment.”

Better now than August?

SC: “I think we’re aiming to improve.

“We know where the club is at and where the team is.

“Everything we’re trying to do is about improving and trying to be better.

“To get to where we want to be, there’s going to be highs and lows. We’ll always strive to get better.

“Progression is key and we’re aiming to do that.” Four points better off than the same stage last year? Does you deserve more credit? SC: “The season’s not finished and I’m not interested in anyone getting credit, apart from the football club. That’s the most important thing, the status of the club and what it’s trying to do on and off the pitch.

“I just want to work as hard as I can and in the way I believe, with players and staff.”

Door open to play-offs?

SC: “Let’s go for things, not just now but since we’ve come back. “There’s everything to be excited about and nothing to be fearful of.”

Leeds’ performance in the 5-0 win over Stoke?

SC: “They’re top of the league for a reason. They have a clear way of playing and have some good players.

“But you’ve got to look forward to this and thrive on it. If you want to achieve, these are the games you’ve got to play well in and win.

“We’re not looking at it from a negative point of view, we’re thinking it’s a great challenge and let’s go for it.”

Does playing last this weekend help?

SC: “In the end, when the game kicks off, we have to play the game.

“All we can focus on is ourselves.

“I don’t mention league position too much, the boys will know that anyway.”

Squad to change again this summer - how hard is it to build?

SC: “It’s going to be a unique situation, with the turnaround of the league.

“We don’t know when we’re going to finish. There’s only going to be a short break and then into pre-season.

“You want to go in with as many players as possible to get the team ready.

“I know there’s a lot of players here out-of-contract, and we don’t know what the financial situation of football is going to be.

“There’s a lot to contend with, but we’re not on our own. You’ve got to work on the present but there’s also longer term planning going on as well.”

Future of players?

SC: “It’s not fresh news.

“We knew this was going to be the case for a while and all I can say is that we are working beyond this season and what we think the plans could be.

“There aren’t any announcements on players coming or going, but what I do know is that we’re on top of it.

“It’s not a case of getting to the end of the season and then thinking about it, it’s been on the agenda for a while now.”

Fitness of Mike van der Hoorn?

SC: “It was great to see him come on the other day. It was a bit of a bonus.

“Beyond that, it’s just continuing to build and give him the right programme.

“He’s doing really well. He’s an experience guy and is great to have around.

“Having that 30 minutes and maybe a little longer moving forward is a good thing for us.”

Excited now?

SC: “It’s what we all want to be involved in. a play-off push is what everyone wants to see.

“To be involved is great and we’ve got everything to look forward to.”