Planet Swans ArchivesThe SkyTV cameras will also be in attendance as they have chosen this game as their showpiece Saturday evening game for the first day of the season and the Swans will be parading some of their new signings at the Liberty in front of a sell out crowd.
But what noises are coming out of both camps ahead of the game as the weeks of pre-season preparation (and in the case of the Swans two Europa League ties as well) finally come to an end and competitive league action returns in the first of thirty-eight league games to follow.
Swansea City
Leon Britton: “Winning will be a target for us because we’ve beaten other top teams. It would be nice to tick them off the list. If you talk to other players in the Premier League, they don’t like coming to Swansea.
“We’re very strong at home and I think that we’ve shown that against Manchester United in the last few years. We drew 1-1 and lost 1-0 before that. Both games could have gone either way.”
Michael Laudrup: รขโฌลItรขโฌโขs never the right time to face a team like Manchester United,รขโฌย said Laudrup. รขโฌลBut we know we have to play them and playing them first is not bad for us.
รขโฌลWhatever they do, they will put out a strong team. But Iรขโฌโขd prefer to play them now, instead of October and November maybe.
รขโฌลIf you have success against a certain team, then you will try and bring that along whenever you play that club.
Manchester United
David Moyes: รขโฌลI have said many times, it is as tough a start as Manchester United have had,รขโฌย said Moyes on his season kick-off in South Wales.
รขโฌลI looked at that a little bit questionably when I first saw it. Is there a conspiracy? Well the old manager told me those sort of things happened!
รขโฌลGoing to Swansea itself, they are a team with great support and Michael Laudrup did a great job last year.
รขโฌลHe has strengthened their team and I would expect them to be competing again. They are in European football and for Swansea to come from the level they have come from is a great achievement for them.
รขโฌลSo itรขโฌโขs a hard start for us, but if it is a hard start for Manchester United, it is a hard start for everyone else because they have to play us.รขโฌย
Chris Smalling: รขโฌลThe Swansea game has been in our minds for a while,รขโฌย he told ManUtd.com. รขโฌลWe saw Sunday as an important build-up to it, and after the internationals [in midweek] weรขโฌโขre firing and ready to go. I canรขโฌโขt wait for that first whistle.
รขโฌลGoing into the season as champions brings that expectation. We know that when we step out onto the pitch weรขโฌโขre seen as the best but we know we need to show that we are, and weรขโฌโขre all determined to do that.”
Pundits and Journalists
Mark Lawrenson: “Swansea’s Europa League qualifier with Malmo will have done them good because they have got a couple of competitive games under their belt already, which are better than any friendlies you can play.
“Bony looks a good signing and everything points to them kicking on again – this is season three for them in the Premier League and, after finishing ninth and winning the Capital One Cup, they will be looking for more progress.
“This looks like a tricky test for Moyes. Swansea can just keep the ball and United cannot hurt them if they do not have possession.”
