Roberto Martinez is the subject of more media exposure today with an insightful article in the Independent

The reporter talks to Roberto about his time in Swansea - similarities between this area and that of his native Catalonia and again gives him the chance to express his Premier League dream for the club.

And there are times when you read managers talking about the Premier League for the club that they manage and you can't help but think "it's never going to happen" but with Roberto you believe it is possible and again you get the feeling that one day he will lead his Swansea side out at such places as Old Trafford and the Emirates Stadium.

One win from two into their Championship adventure in the most competitive league there is is a good start but Roberto is in no hurry and again expressed his statement and belief that it could take five or ten years but the goal is already set that that is the end product we are working towards.

On comparisons between here and his homeland though, Roberto told the newspaper "There are many similarities

"For Catalans, the big enemy is the centralism in Spain, and here in Wales it is a little bit the same – you are always fighting the big brother. But here people don't realise how lucky they are, to have their own football team, their own rugby team, their own recognition as a country. Catalans would love that. But both are very passionate peoples, who use sport to express themselves. And that's huge, that's a way to live.

"Under Franco, Catalans weren't allowed to speak their own language. Many had to go abroad, artists and writers especially. So all of a sudden, once allowed to be themselves, you can see the passion in everything they do. They'd been caged for so many years.

"Obviously the culture shock was huge," Martinez said referring to his arrival in this country when he signed for Wigan. "The first time we saw Wigan play was in a friendly somewhere up north. Taking the kick-off, they passed it back and then just kicked it long, behind the full-back's head – just to kick it out of play, and then the whole team squeezed up. We said: 'Hey, what's this? That's a rugby movement.' We'd never seen that in Spain; you would get told off if you gave the ball away. So we thought: 'Wow, this is going to be interesting.'"

Off the field, the contrasts were no less unnerving. Accustomed to siestas and late dinners, he would get up to find it dark at four, and shops closing at five, but Martinez, young as he was, persevered.

"Now that I was here, I was going to make the most of the experience

"Beans on toast as a pre-match meal – that was a big shock. And coming back from a long trip, Plymouth or wherever, the boys were allowed to have a drink on the bus and some had to leave their cars when we got back because they were drunk. That was a big 'no' in Spain. Here, at 18, someone tells a young player who's professional, who's not. They don't have to fight any more. In Spain, 18 is when you really need to make the point, whether you want to be a professional or not.

"You look at the names and the potential in the Championship, and have to be realistic," Martinez added. "At the same time, I think what we have given the fans a 'no-fear' factor. Our dream has always been Premier League football – not just now, but when we were trying to get out of League One as well.

"How long is it going to take? It could be five years, 10 years, two years, we don't know, but what is clear nowadays is that you need to take solid steps in whatever you do, so that every day the club grows stronger. So that one day, when you get there, you will be able to compete. The fans, the players, the directors, everyone understands how difficult the road will be but so long as we are united, we shouldn't fear anything."

And at this moment in time, I genuinely don't believe we do.

You can read the full article in today's independent by visiting http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/roberto-martinez-the-spanish-swan-901729.html

Photo: Action Images

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