The Swansea City manager picked up his first manager of the month award of the season yesterday for steering his side unbeaten through January – a run which lifted them to the brink of the play off positions and the 5th Round of the FA Cup at the same time.
It has been a remarkable season for the Swans who many tipped to be fighting relegation this season but their brand of football has attracted many plaudits and given them a chance of a back to back promotion.
But Roberto now believes that the Swans are no longer a surprise package as he prepared for the visit of Ipswich to the LIberty tomorrow and he told the Western Mail “When you are the surprise package I thought you would get 10 to 15 games in that situation
“But I think we were only the surprise package for one or two games.
“After that we had teams coming to the Liberty trying to stop us playing and being very defensive-minded.
“I don’t think we have been a surprise package at all if you look at the way other teams have been treating us.
“Next season I think will be better for us because of the experience we have picked up over the last year.
“The one thing we must do is ensure we improve again on what we have done this season.
“All the situations we have been through this season are all the experiences we needed for this club to progress
“There is no time for any regrets ar anything like that.
“There was disappointment after the Southampton game because we know we are capable of performing a lot better.
“Getting a point, even that is not good enough with the standards we have set ourselves, but it’s one game we can learn a lot from.
“I’m expecting an improvement in our next game, but I don’t look at things like that.
“Ipswich are a footballing side, they are similar to us in the way they want to win football games. They treat the ball well and rely a lot on their attacking play.
“I expect them to come to the Liberty Stadium and play an open game and push forward with the aim of winning it.
“That should make it a good game and a very good advert for Championship football.
“We’ve got eight important finals left at home.
“We will be going out there without fear, with plenty of confidence because that will be the beast way for us to face what lies ahead.
“I think we are ready now to deal with any challenge that might be thrown at us.”