Planet Swans ArchivesThe Swans are in the fourth round stage for the first time in over thirty years and have never made the quarter finals of the competition – the position on offer to the winners of the fourth round tie
And after yesterday’s draw paired the Swans with a home draw to their fellow Championship side Watford, Jenkins believes that the Swans have the chance to create another piece of history.
He told the Wales on Sunday “The only way to look at it is that this is a fantastic opportunity to get through the quarter-finals.
“Some will look at it and think we didn’t get a glamour tie, but a home draw against a side in our own division has presented an opportunity that shouldn’t be underestimated.
“It wasn’t in our budget to reach this stage anyway, so any extra game is a pay day in that respect.
“But at this stage of our development as a football club the advantages of getting through to the final stages far, far outweigh those playing Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal would bring.
“A big game can bring profile in the short term, but reaching the final stages of a competition like the Carling Cup is about the future, and it is far-reaching success that we are striving to achieve here.
“Teams have shown it can be done – you can’t hide from the fact that Cardiff’s success in the FA Cup last year generated a huge amount of publicity – and good luck to them.
“But maybe this year it can be our turn to do a similar thing in the Carling Cup.
“There are plenty of league games ahead to think about first, and that is another reason why it’s not a bad thing to have avoided a big-name team in the next round as sometimes that can affect focus. The success in the Carling Cup has been good so far but we want to use results like the one against Cardiff as a springboard for the league.”
