Roberto Martinez says he is unsure of what kind of reception he will get at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday
Roberto Martinez says he is unsure of what kind of reception he will get at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday
The former Swansea City manager returns to the Liberty for the first time since abandoning them two years ago unsure of what kind of reception he will get from a sell out home crowd.
It is not the first time he has come up against the Swans - the two sides met in last season's Carling Cup - but it is his first visit to Swansea as an opposing manager that will make for an interesting afternoon.
“I don’t know what kind of reception I’ll get,” said Martinez,
“I obviously have strong links with Swansea City as a player, as a captain and as a manager, and it will be an incredible occasion on Saturday.
“I always said that the two football clubs in my heart were Wigan Athletic and Swansea City, and that hasn’t changed.
“So in this situation, I thank destiny for the cards it has dealt because being involved in the first-ever Premier League game at the Liberty Stadium will be an honour for me.
“But I don’t know about what the reception will be like. I’m sure the fans will let me know how they feel on Saturday, but I can’t really be thinking about that now.
“In any football match, it’s all about the players, not the managers or anyone else.
“Whatever the reaction will be, I’ll accept it, because I’ve got far too much respect for the football club and the fans.
“Probably we got to the point when I was there that we had achieved as much as we could using the resources we had to hand,
“The football club needed an injection of money, and that came through the compensation the club received for me, plus the transfer fee for Jason Scotland.
“That allowed Swansea to go to the next level, and the end result is being in the Premier League.
“I think Swansea will be a real revelation of the Premier League this season,” he said.
“They have a huge arrogance and a huge belief in themselves, and they keep the ball really well.
“If you want to highlight Swansea’s strength, it’s the way they play as a team, and their pattern of play.
“They’ve got a very confident way of stretching the pitch, they play between lines really well and their players are technically gifted.
“They have been playing together for a long time, and they really believe in what they are.
“Individuals come in and add to the team, but the overall mentality gives them an ideal platform to compete with everyone this season.
“I really feel they’ll be a real surprise package this season.
“With regards to the position in the table, it’s hard to tell what that will equate to.
“But I feel they’ll definitely hold on to their top-flight status.
“I don’t think many people will expect them to be so dominant in possession, so arrogant with the ball, and that will allow them to be competitive.
“It is a huge game for both sides and we need to be able to handle the atmosphere and the occasion in the right, positive way.”