Laudrup Aware Of Derby Importance

It seems mad to suggest that a manage who has played in such derbies as Barcelona v Real Madrid, Lazio v Roma and Jutentus v Torino would under estimate the feelings that go around with any derby but that is exactly what he has been accused of.

What has been missed is that Michael goes about his business quietly and earlier in the season only talked down the importance of the derby because he only focuses on one game at a time and that one is the next one. He was honest enough to admit at the fans forum earlier this season that the only time he looked two games ahead was back in February when he looked at the League Cup Final instead of the Liverpool game and he just repeated the result from that game at Anfield.

So when he was asked at the same forum about the Cardiff game he was quick to play down discussions on the game itself but with it now looming large on the horizon he is prepared to talk about it and acknowledge just what it means to the supporters of both clubs.

Laudrup will enter the Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow looking to secure a win that will move the Swans five points clear of their local rivals as they start a run of three games in a week that will lead them into the next international break. After Cardiff, the Swans travel to Russia on Thursday looking for the win that will just about secure their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League before welcoming Stoke to the Liberty next Sunday.

But it was the Cardiff game that was on the mind of the manager who said “For Swansea and Cardiff this is the biggest.

“In football you can discuss who is the best player or team or the best derby and never agree. For every particular fan their derby is the most important.

“When you walk around in the last couple of weeks people talk about the games importance. It’s happened to me everywhere – three hames before people are already thinking about it. That’s why it’s something special”

Tomorrow’s game will be the 55th league meeting between the two sides and Laudrup will be hoping to extend the Swans advantage in those league games.