Planet Swans ArchivesThe Swansea City manager will lock horns with aย Premiership club for the first time in the FA Cup as a manager after four non-league ties.
Games against Billericay, Horsham, Havant and Histon have been the Swans last four FA Cupย draws but after overcoming one of this season’s giant killers in Round 3, they now get the chance toย take on the holders on their own patch inย Round 4.
The game next Saturday will present a new challenge for Roberto but it is one that he is relishing as he believes his side can now be themselves “Our last four FA Cup games have been against non league sides so we were always the favourites.ย ย You can’t enjoy the Cup when you have that label.ย It’s not nice to have.” he told News of the World
“You’re in a no win situation because non league grounds are difficult places to go and everyone is hoping for an upset.
“You want to love the FA Cup because it’s a special competition but it was hard to enjoy those games at Billericay, Horsham, Havant and Histon.
“We had to adapt to a new environment.ย Histon’s pitch looked OK before kick off but after half an hour it was totally different.
“But in this side we are the underdogs and we can enjoy the Cup because we’ve got that tage.ย ย We can be ourselves at Portsmouth, the result will be decided purely by football.
“It will be a huge test for us because Portsmouth have some fantastic players but if we are at our best who knows what can happen.”
