Brendan Rodgers has suggested that Swans fans should give Roberto Martinez a good reception on his return to the Liberty

Brendan Rodgers has suggested that Swans fans should give Roberto Martinez a good reception on his return to the Liberty

Rodgers believes that Roberto still has the interests of the club at heart and as he prepares his side for their first home game in the Premier League he has asked supporters to remember the job that Roberto did and then get behind the team in their quest for three points.

“Roberto is a terrific part of the Swansea City story – and as a manager I respect that,

“He’s a good man and laid the foundations here.

“He was captain of the club, he understands the basics of it and the depths it had dropped to – he played in that Hull game – and then he rose with it as manager.

“But, from a manager’s perspective, he had developed the club and then had a chance to go to an established Premier League club, one he knew very well.

“I know Swansea meant a lot to him and what happened when he left seemed as if that wasn’t the case.

“But in his defence he’s a good man and I know he thinks an awful lot of the club and the decision to leave was purely a career move.

“It probably hurt at the time but I would hope supporters would understand the role he played because he made a great contribution, as have others.

“I am sure some supporters may well be still upset – but if you are asking me what I think then I’d say to the supporters to give him a good reception, and then as soon as the game starts throw everything behind Swansea.

“I think any (bad) reception would be a mark of how much he was respected,” said Rodgers. “It is always hurtful for supporters to lose someone as close to you as Roberto was.

“But loyalty is now very much with supporters. It is difficult for managers because they are shown the door, left, right and centre.

“He did a great job but in your career you have chances to move and decisions to make. He felt it was best for him and nothing against the club.

“And he wasn’t leaving for any club, it was one that brought him to this country.

“But it shows what people think of him here when we are asking two years on what sort of reception he will get.

“I went back twice to Watford and Reading and no doubt there is anxiousness and nerves about the reception. Certainly at Reading I was anxious because the club meant a lot to me.

“But the supporters were brilliant, with a great round of applause.

“They sang my name in the first five minutes – and that was that. It was as if they held out a hand of appreciation and we could both move on.

“And I think supporters here have a lot of class, they will understand the role Roberto played which I respect and I’m sure the fans will respect.

“My concentration and focus is only on the game. I understand the interest because it’s part of the story of the club so there’s a natural element, but for me the game is about the next three points.

“It’s a big occasion and I’m looking forward for people to see the intensity here at the Liberty and what a wonderful stadium it is when it is full and rocking with 20,000.

“Because we need to try and make it a fortress again. We want to win our home games, and although it is a historic day for us, it is about us wanting to get our first points on the board as quick as we can.

“I think everyone who watched the game on Monday will recognise that we can get better as the season goes on and if we play with that confidence we’ll do well,” he said.

“We could have easily parked the team bus and lost by one or two but people would have written us off. The way we played against genuine world-class players was very encouraging.

“But this will be no better indication of where we are. Roberto will come here with a team he is hopeful of getting into the top 10. But we know as a newly-promoted side how important it is to get that first win – and the earlier the better.”

Photo: Action Images

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