Himmy Hadziabdic is "90 per cent" certain the Jacks are going to the Premier League

Hadziabdic was part of the only Swansea City side that has won promotion to the top flight and - thirty years on - Brendan Rodgers side could repeat the feat this season as the promotion race enters it's final stretch at Preston on Saturday.

Hadzabdic told the Evening Post "I am optimistic and I believe we can win promotion again. I see the style of the team and the way we play — the players are not afraid of anyone in this league.

"I have watched a lot of games this season — I have been at maybe ten or 15 and have seen others on television — and I don't see a team better than Swansea.

"I have seen Queens Park Rangers, Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Cardiff, and I am 90 per cent sure we will go up.

"I thought it at the start of the season — I told Alan Curtis and I told my neighbours that they could finish in the top two. So far, they are doing a very good job.

"I think the league is weak — there are surprises every week because a lot of the good players go straight to the Premier League," Hadziabdic says.

"I have watched many of the teams who come to Swansea and 75 per cent just try to defend. They play for a draw.

"I have not seen much good football, and that makes Swansea different. But in many games I am shaking when we get to 75 or 80 minutes and we are only 1-0 up.

"One mistake can mean a draw, and sometimes we play with too many touches, especially at home. We give the opposition a chance to settle.

"We now have four strikers, with usually only one on the pitch.

"I was worried when the captain (Garry Monk) was out injured. If it wasn't for (Alan) Tate, we wouldn't have had an option."

Hadziabdic's biggest disappointment of the season was the home defeat by Cardiff, when "one loss of concentration" let Craig Bellamy in for a spectacular winning goal.

But he remains optimistic Swansea can get over the line — and reckons it is vital they do not end up in the play-offs.

"When you are in the play-offs you are gambling

"Some of the Swansea players are not very experienced and when the whole season is decided in one or two games, there is lots of pressure.

"Sometimes I think teams can now read Swansea very well. Managers know where Swansea are very strong, and that is with the two wingers.

"Managers would try everything to stop them in the play-offs. I think (Darren) Pratley has not been as strong this year because managers have got to know about him.

"The same thing happened to me when I was playing my second season for Swansea — it is harder to do well when people get to know who you are.

"It's good that people remember what we did, but now we must support the current generation," he says.

"This Swansea team could make history and we should think about them.

"I remember one thing from our win at Preston, and that was (Bill) Shankly coming into our changing room because Toshack asked him to speak to us.

"I still don't know one word he said because of his strong Scottish accent — and because I was shocked. But Toshack talked to him because he was a young manager and two heads are better than one.

"Maybe now Brendan Rodgers can talk to Alan Curtis. He is the history of the club."

Photo: Action Images

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