“The team play with a strong philosophy, they are always competitive and in their last game they deserved to beat a team like Manchester United”.
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“It wouldn’t surprise me if he was linked with England”, said the Everton manager of the 36-year-old.
The Everton manager returns to his former club on Saturday convinced that Monk will be a candidate for the England job in the post-Roy Hodgson era.
Swansea City come off the back of a shock defeat at Vicarage Road, sitting in eighth on the league table, just below Saturday’s opponents on goal difference.
“Everton had a hard season past year for various reasons, but they’ve started this season extremely well”. As far as their team-mate Federico Fernandez is concerned, playing at a higher tempo is crucial.
The visitors’ manager, Roberto Martinez, made his coaching reputation at Swansea, introducing the attractive passing style that remains in place at the Liberty Stadium, and he has taken those principles to Goodison Park. They’re responded well in training and we want to give a positive reaction against Everton.
“They are a strong outfit, but we are confident”.
Defender Coleman and midfielder Besic both came off in last weekend’s victory over Chelsea due to hamstring problems, but Toffees boss Roberto Martinez has reported the pair have reacted well to treatment and are not being ruled out of the trip to Wales.
Martinez’s side nearly qualified for the Champions League the season before last and their victory over the title-holders suggests they may trouble the European places again this time around.
The task for Everton now is to replicate that fine performance at the Liberty Stadium against a club Martinez captained as a player and managed between 2007 and 2009.
On his reunion with Martinez, Monk added: “We were together here”.
“I don’t see another manager who has had as big an influence over the last three seasons in taking different roles”.
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“You feel that with Garry there, there are many, many good things that can arrive for Swansea”.
