Swansea City boss Michael Laudrup: Rodgers wounds will heal

MICHAEL Laudrup has insisted any bitterness towards Brendan Rodgers will heal in time as Swansea City prepare for tomorrow’s Capital One Cup reunion with their former boss.

Swansea go to Liverpool looking to clinch a place in the last eight of the competition for the first time in their history.

But much of the focus for Swansea’s fans will be on the home dugout at Anfield — and the man who led them to the Premier League.

Rodgers faces his former club for the first time since ending a hugely successful stint at the Liberty to take over at Liverpool in the summer.

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Laudrup, who memorably crossed the divide between Barcelona and Real Madrid during his playing days, says he does not know what reception Swansea’s travelling fans will give Rodgers.

But he is convinced it cannot be as hostile as the one he received when he went back to Barca as a Real player.

Laudrup was hammered every time he went near the ball, and admits it was the one occasion during his playing career where supporters caused him to lose focus.

“I don’t know how much stick Brendan will take on Wednesday, but I can tell you it won’t be as much as I did when, after five years playing for Barcelona, I went back there with Real Madrid,” said the Swansea manager. “You could say the fans weren’t that happy to see me — there were 100,000 whistling at me every time I touched the ball.

“The noise was incredible. It wasn’t very pleasant.

“But years on, I can now go to the Camp Nou and be welcomed there. Time is a great healer.

“Football is about feelings, sometimes very strong feelings — from the highest love to the deepest hate.

“That’s how it can change, very quickly. You cannot alter it.

“That’s why supporters react the way they do.

“But over time, you begin to appreciate what a particular person did.

“That’s why I believe that eventually they will realise what progress Brendan made here. He did a great job for the club.”

Swansea have won only once in 16 previous visits to Anfield, and they have already matched their best performance in the League Cup by reaching the fourth round.

Liverpool have lifted the trophy eight times, and are the current holders having beaten Cardiff on penalties in last year’s final.

They have not made a flying start under Rodgers, but look to be improving all the time and have won five of their last nine matches in all competitions.

“I can only see it from the outside, but to bring any team into the Premier League is a great thing and he did at Swansea,” Laudrup added. “There has been a line at the club for many years, which started with Roberto Martinez, then came (Paulo) Sousa and then Brendan Rodgers.

“Maybe Brendan is the most-known because he was the one who brought the team from the Championship to the Premier League, but I think it started with Roberto.”

Swansea are sweating over the fitness of Ashley Williams (ankle) and Wayne Routledge (groin) ahead of the Liverpool trip after both players missed training yesterday.

Michel Vorm is out for a couple of months with a groin problem, meaning Gerhard Tremmel will start in goal tomorrow with youth product Dai Cornell on the bench.

Angel Rangel is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season at Manchester City last weekend.

Swansea are expected to be backed by around 3,000 travelling fans on Merseyside. Tickets go on sale at 2pm today.