Michael Laudrup spoke exclusively to Ford Football Special about his new beginning as the manager of Swansea City.
The former Barcelona and Real Madrid midfielder was named as the surprise successor to Brendan Rodgers over the summer and made an explosive start to life in the Premier League, beating QPR 5-0 in his very first game.
Speaking ahead of the live Sky Sports clash with West Ham he opened up about his football philosophies and his expectations for the season.
Hit the video for an extended version of the interview and read on for a snapshot of what he had to say...
Laudrup on... why he decided to join Swansea
"When they called me I have to be honest, I didn't know too much about Swansea. I knew it was in Wales and they'd played their first season in the Premier League last season, but I had to do some research. Everybody spoke very highly about this club and about the way they play on the pitch as well. That was the most important thing for me because I have my own way of seeing it and I thought it could be a good combination, me and Swansea. I like to play possession and I would really like to go and work in the Premier. I've never been here as a player or a manager and it will be a great challenge and a great experience."
Laudrup on... winning his first Swansea game 5-0 at QPR
"Winning 5-0 at this level is beyond what you can believe. It's not normal, but I was happy for the players, the team and the fans. But afterwards I always analyse and we started well, but then in the first half after the goal we suffered a bit, but the second half was perfect in many ways - if you can talk about 'perfect'. The counter-attacks were very good, they were well organised, had a good shape and there were four great goals. It was a great game, a great victory, a great start, but it was only one game."
Laudrup on... his approach to the Swansea job
"Every manager has small things tactically and off the pitch that you want to change, but overall I think I came here with a feeling that I didn't want to change too much. You have to be very careful when you come in as a foreigner into a new country, a new culture and a new style if you change too many things. I changed a few things that I think are very important for this team. I think we need something this year on top of what was already built. I think the big stones have already been built in the last couple of years, but I need to put something on top because this year is going to be difficult. It is the second year and everybody has said in the last couple of weeks 'it will be very difficult for Swansea in the second season'."
Laudrup on... how to be successful in football
"What's so good about football is that there's not one truth. You can't say everybody has to play like Barcelona or Real Madrid or Man United or Brazil or Spain or whatever. There's a lot of ways to success. Of course, you can have your opinion on how you want to play and there are things you can always improve by training. I think Swansea's an example. They don't have the players they have at Man U or Man City, but they are playing at a high level."
Laudrup on... what he wants to achieve at Swansea
"First of all, to be playing in the Premier League in the season 2013/14. That's overall the number one. Then I think it's for me to continue what has been built up in previous years with the former managers and to put something on top so people can still be proud of this team in this city and that they are still playing the same kind of football. The big steps have already been made going from League One to Championship, lower Championship to higher, Play-Offs into Premier and then a great first season. It's not so important to me if we arrive at 10th, 12th or 14th, if we get two more points than last season or five less, it's that people see we are continuing and we are still trying to build small steps on top of what has already been built."
Laudrup on... the transition from Barcelona and Real Madrid to Swansea
"It's different. When you are a player you can be one of 22 or 25. When you are a manager there's only one in each club. I am here and I don't look to the future. That's one of the things football has taught me over all these years; be in the present because otherwise you can have problems. You have to look at the present and my present is this season and only this season for Swansea. This season is the only thing I care about, not what I will do in two, five or 15 years."
