Federico Fernandez has been at Swansea for less than twelve months but in that time you would already argue that his partnership with Ashley Williams is the strongest central defensive partnership that the Swans have ever had.

When the club paid around £8m for him last season he came on a four year contract and not long after he had played for Argentina in the World Cup in Brazil. Being part of a squad that has just lost the World Cup final it was always going to take him a time to settle but he soon got into his stride and is clearly a composed and stylish defender.

He arrived saying he had heard many good things about Swansea and I don't think he has been disappointed by what he has found in his time here.

Having been a massive part of our record breaking form of last season he is now experiencing a Garry Monk pre-season for the first time as the squad continue their pre-season preparations against Reading tonight and Nottingham Forest tomorrow.

And with just over two weeks until the season opener, Fernandez is enjoying life in South Wales ahead of the new season.

“I feel very good after the week in Germany,” said the Argentinian centre-back. “It was a very positive week in terms of our preparations for the new season.

“Training was very tough, with double sessions on a lot of days, but this is what we have to do to get to the levels we feel we should reach.

“Everyone is working hard — the manager is pushing us and the players all have the right attitude to improve, which is important.

“We are all working hard together to make this another fantastic season for Swansea.
“I can tell already that we are improving and getting to where we want to be. Hopefully we can enjoy another great season.”

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