Planet Swans ArchivesSavage was part of the Derby side that was crushed 6-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium earlier this season and he is hoping that history does not repeat itself on this visit to South Wales.
The Swans and Derby open the weekend Championship fixtures with the clash at the Liberty and victory for the Swans would be enough to lift them into 3rd place in the Championship table.
But it is the memories of that night in Cardiff that are fresh in the mind of Savage who told therams.co.uk “Funnily enough, we were 2-0 down at half-time and came out and scored
“We were then on top but conceded poor goals and, in the end, we were embarrassed.
“We let ourselves down, the manager down and the fans down.
“We will put on a better performance against Swansea.
“I am a proud Welshman but I couldn’t care less if I played there every week. It doesn’t matter what country I play in, all I want to do is win for Derby County,” added the 35-year-old midfelder.
“I’ll probably get some stick from the fans down there but I enjoy it. When the boos stop, it will be time to hang my boots up.”
Savage won 39 caps for Wales and admits he probably quit the international scene too soon.
“I should have had 60 or 70 caps – that’s a fact. I enjoyed my time under one of the best Welsh managers (Mark Hughes) and in one of the best Welsh teams in recent years,” said Savage.
“I know I had something to offer but when you are told you are not going to be in the next three or four squads what can you do?
“I wasn’t going to be picked. Even if I’d been world player of the year, I wouldn’t have been picked, as simple as that. It was because of my personality.
“I am not going to harp on about (Wales manager) John Toshack. He had a good result at the weekend – credit to him. I wasn’t for him, as simple as that.”
