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Paulo Would Happily Face Cardiff City
Paulo Would Happily Face Cardiff City
Friday, 23rd Apr 2010 05:57

Paulo Sousa believes he knows the reason why Cardiff want to avoid Swansea in the play offs

The Swansea City manager was responding to comments made earlier in the week by Anthony Gerrard that he would rather avoid the Swans in the play offs if he could do.

But Sousa has taken the opposite view and would happily face the Bluebirds at either stage believing that his side has the better of their local rivals.

Sousa was responding to a direct question of whether he would rather avoid Cardiff when he told the Western Mail “No, because we played better in the two league games.

“We deserved to win the Cardiff away game so I understand why they don’t want to play against us. Because probably they think we are a better side than them.

“What we saw in both games is that we handled it well and played with a lot of quality and the environment is always nice because it is what we work for

“If we look at the table the prospect is more likely Nottingham.

“I don’t care because if we go to play Nottingham and they make some rotations for that, we have more chances to win.

“I have a lot of respect for Blackpool, but I keep thinking about ourselves,” said Sousa. “If we are at our best it is easier to get what we want.

“And what we want is to win every game. Winning these two games would be a fantastic achievement for us, to stay in the play-offs.

“Like I said some months ago, we have a big, big chance because of our quality and the motivation it would bring to the players. We have enough to handle such an achievement.

“The play-offs are hard to predict, but I am so confident in my players and what we can achieve. I have said already that if we achieve it (getting to the play-offs) we have a big chance and I believe we can go through.

“I am very focused on the game on Saturday. I will be focused 100 per cent only for Saturday, just like my players.

“The Swansea fans can be proud and confident that all our focus, myself and the players, is to do the proper things for Saturday and win the game.

“What I want is to win the game and after that think about our next opponents.

“The mood in the squad is good because we realise everything we have done until now shows we are good enough to handle the next two games.

“We have already achieved a good level and every time we play close to our best level we have the ability to win every game and it is something I expect for Saturday – all my players to be at their best.

“I don’t feel pressure and the players don’t feel pressure.

“From what I have seen, this season is a big development for everyone and we’ve achieved what nobody expected us to achieve, so why would we have pressure?

“We need to enjoy the moment because once more we depend on ourselves and if we achieve like I expect, we can get the three points we want.

“During this season we have already broken some records and hopefully if we break one more at this stage of the season it will be very good for us.

“My players have the spirit, character and quality needed.

“It will be difficult. It’s their last game at home and they have reduced the price of the tickets to have a full stadium.

“They are a team who have a lot of intensity, but we have good memories of the last game against them at the Liberty Stadium.

“We need to show the same character, spirit, talent and quality as a team we have done so far.

“It’s always intense and you can see the team always reflects the manager, the intensity he puts into the game.

“All games in the Championship are difficult, it is always hard to win games.”

Photo: Action Images



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