Of course if you wanted to look at it cynically he is bound to talk up our skills especially after the clinical way we destroyed them at the Liberty but whilst it may be a little bit dreamland to believe that we could lift the trophy come next May it certainly gives you an idea how good the squad is shaping up at this moment in time.
Malmo captain Jiloan Hamad said “If they play at their top level they can go all the way.
“They are a really strong team. If Atletico Madrid can do it then so can Swansea.
“I’m a winger so I look at their wide players and I like Dyer and Routledge.
“They are two fast wingers, while I also have to mention Michu.
“In fact, both of their strikers because Bony is so strong and they fit so good together.
“You can see they have thought a lot about their transfers and they can do well.â€
The Swans showed last season just what they were capable of when we surprised many to finish 9th in the league and take one of the three available pieces of domestic silverware by lifting the Capital One Cup after a run that saw both Liverpool and Chelsea beaten in their own backyards.
And with the summer addition to the squad of Wilfried Bony, Pozuelo, Jose Canas, Jordi Amat and Jonjo Shelvey in particular you have much more strength in depth especially when you consider the departures will hardly have damaged the Swans giving them real options in depth.
And the words of the Malmo captain back that up and with a two legged tie against Romanian opponents the Swans are fully expected to progress to the group stages of the competition as a bare minimum.
In recent years both Fulham and Middlesbrough have progressed to the final of the tournament which many clubs sadly hold in low regard which I can’t say I will ever understand given the fact it is one of only two European trophies on offer in the domestic game across Europe? Michael Laudrup himself has experience of taking an unfancied side far in the competition – Getafe reaching the quarter finals before losing to current European Champions Bayern Munich on away goals at that stage of the competition.
For now though lets enjoy the ride that European football is bringing us and use the cliche of taking every game as it comes and see just how far that gets us.
