Huw Jenkins: Swansea City are ready for Europa League adventure
HUW Jenkins insists Swansea City would relish a crack at the Europa League next season, declaring: “Of course we are ready.”
Swansea will be heading into continental competition for the first time since 1991 if they beat Bradford City in Sunday’s Capital One Cup final.
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Huw Jenkins
Swansea have never previously qualified for Europe via the English system.
And though there are some who say a Europa League campaign could hamper Swansea domestically next season, Jenkins is adamant the club would cope.
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Asked if Swansea are geared up for a European adventure, he declared: “Of course we are.
“If we are lucky enough to get that chance, we will try 100 per cent to make a success of it and to enjoy it.
“We will ignore the fact that many other clubs just moan about the Europa League because of the travelling involved and the number of games you have to play.
“I would view getting into the Europa League as a massive opportunity for us.
“If you look back a few years, going into Europe would be far better than where we could have been travelling to if we had ended up driving around the country playing Conference games.”
Boss Michael Laudrup has already spelled out plans to work with a smaller squad next season.
But Swansea would be required to play many more fixtures in 2013-14 if they overcome Bradford this weekend.
Liverpool, for instance, have played 11 Europa League games to date this term having won last year’s League Cup.
Newcastle’s Premier League form has dipped this season after they reached Europe, but Jenkins is bullish about Swansea’s prospects.
“If we can get past Bradford — and we know that we will have to be 100 per cent on our game to do that — it’s something our football club would relish,” the Swansea chairman added.
“If we got into the Europa League, we would take the challenge on and try to compete just as we have done in the Premier League.
“This weekend is a chance for us to keep our club moving forward.
“If we are lucky enough to win the final, it will be a massive boost for us.”
Laudrup’s squad stepped up their preparations for Wembley on the training ground this morning after a couple of days’ recuperation in the wake of their 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool.
Swansea’s major injury concern ahead of the final is Chico Flores, who remains very doubtful with the ankle ligament injury he suffered 11 days ago.
9 Comments
by cresswell1
Friday, February 22 2013, 2:16PM
“bradford 2- swansea 1”
by TheSwanseaWay
Thursday, February 21 2013, 5:09PM
“I've been doing a countdown to Wembley on my new blog - The Swansea Way - check it out and leave comments!
http://tinyurl.com/b84k5fs”
by chelsea1955
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 8:17PM
“cresswell utd numpty”
by cresswell1
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 7:13PM
“come on Bradford”
by nice_nails
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 5:39PM
“@Spideyjonesy, Monaco was brill we took a beating in panakithkos and there are still places in Europe the fans want to be weary off, my fears are the jacks may lose sight of the prem league like Ipswich did when they got into Europe, yes players would be more attracted to the club, but could it be too much to soon, saying that Jenkins knows what he's doing.”
by GorsseinonJoe
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 5:33PM
“A few years ago we were almost playing Conference, are we ready for the Europa? Of course we are, it's the next step.
But let's beat Bradford first.”
by danelocruz
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 3:50PM
“Playing in UEFA would be great but squad needs to be expanded. Even though ML prefers to work with a smaller squad we don't want to make the same mistakes as Newcastle. It is evident from last week's Liverpool thrashing that our subs are simply not good enough.”
by Spideyjonesy
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 2:27PM
“I recall playing in europe for the ombined services team back in the 50's great times. I went to Monaco with the swans in the 80's and to panakithkos (not so pleasant), this will be great for all the players and the younger fans.
good luck to the swans this is 1 one oap who will be with you wherever you go”
by brochadav
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 1:57PM
“I think the squad needs a bit of work before we are really ready for a Europa adventure. But I'm sure Laudrup will take care of that in the summer. And, if we do win the cup, next season will be even more exciting than this.
How long can we keep on exceeding expectations?”