Martinez – I Think Swansea Are Ready

Martinez left Swansea City in the summer of 2009 to head to the Premier League and Wigan Athletic but he know thinks that his former club are ready to take the step up and is looking forward to a match up with them next season.

Speaking to the Evening Post, Martinez said "Since I arrived in Swansea back in 2003 the club have been through absolutely everything

"We had the most traumatic relegation scrap you could imagine, then we said goodbye to the Vetch and moved to a new stadium.

"We won promotions and we built a clear style of football that everyone around the country has followed and everyone respects.

"All along the dream was to reach the Premier League, and now that dream is one game away.

"I hope they can do it. It would feel right if the opening fixture of the next Premier League campaign was Swansea City versus Wigan Athletic.

"You don't get easy play-off finals and it will be a close game," he adds.

"Reading are on a roll after finishing the season well and they will be feeling confident.

"But I look at Swansea City and I feel they are the strongest team in the Championship, never mind just the play-offs. The core of the group has been together a long time and they have been through many things.

"They have found a way to play that is difficult for other teams to cope with and I think they are ready to win promotion.

"You need to be careful because things can happen in a game which you cannot control, like a refereeing decision for example. But in pure football terms, Swansea for me are in the right moment to do it.

"Of course I will feel some pride if they get there," he says.

"I've said before that we tried to build the foundations which would help Swansea get to the Premier League and, when they got there, to stay there.

"I think with the playing staff they have now they can do that because those players understand the football club."

For all his work in the past, Martinez is quick to stress the importance of Rodgers's influence this season.

"I think Brendan and Swansea are the perfect marriage.

"He has polished a diamond.

"He has brought the whole football club together and he has revitalised the attacking beliefs of the squad.

"Swansea love to control games and they love to impose themselves. Hopefully they can do that against Reading."