Laudrup plans to surprise

Michael Laudrup: Aiming to continue Swansea's recent rise after replacing Brendan Rodgers

Recently-appointed boss Michael Laudrup is aiming to recreate Swansea's surprise factor as he plots their second Premier League campaign.

The South Wales club shocked many people in their debut campaign with an impressive 11th-place finish under previous boss Brendan Rodgers.

But they have been placed among the bookies' favourites for relegation ahead of the new season following Rodgers' summer departure to Liverpool.

Former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Laudrup has been handed the task of continuing the Swans' rapid rise and he insists he will only be making minor adjustments to the successful model built by Rodgers.

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"The big steps have at this club have already been made here and you cannot continue building like that, because you will end up at the top of the Premier League."
Michael Laudrup Quotes of the week

"It's difficult to reach the top, it's more difficult to stay there," the Dane, 48, told The Independent.

"And that's because the surprise is not there any more. And when there is not a surprise you have to know and realise it will be more difficult.

"Everyone has analysed Swansea from last season. Everyone has seen in which games Swansea has done well and asked 'why?'"

He added: "The big steps at this club have already been made here and you cannot continue building like that, because you will end up at the top of the Premier League. I think it's a bit early to be talking about that.

"Now you have to put the small blocks on top.

"That could be to be more solid, to have alternatives when Plan A is not working; small things, tactically, which maybe could still surprise the opponents either during the game or from one game to another."

Possession

Laudrup has enjoyed success with small clubs before, having turned tiny Spanish club Getafe into an established La Liga club, and his philosophy of passing footballing - Swansea's hallmark in recent years - was another reason for his appointment by chairman Huw Jenkins.

But Swans fans might expect to see an earlier killer pass from Laudrup's side.

"I'm a possession guy, I like to do that," he said. "You might like to say I would like to go a little earlier, yes.

"Overall, I think my philosophy on possession is that it is a means to distract the other team.

"So you keep the ball, move the ball around and suddenly there will be space somewhere for some player to receive the ball in a good position where he - and we - can do damage."

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