Swansea City have come under fire for misfiring in front of goal – yet nobody in the Premier League has been more accurate when it comes to shooting than Garry Monk’s men.
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The midfielder said: “I had barely met anyone from Swansea and I still felt like Southampton were my club because I had literally only been to Swansea to sign all the paperwork”.
But Monk thinks critics of his seventh-placed side are getting carried away.
The Dutch boss admits that Swansea are a very hard opponent to break down, and feels the two side’s similar styles will ensure that the game is very evenly matched.
“People were asking at one stage a year ago if we were too reliant on Gylfi (Sigurdsson) and (Wilfried) Bony and it showed it wasn’t the case”, he told reporters.
“You can include pre-season as well if you like, and that’s another five games without defeat”.
“We always react well when we have setbacks”.
“We were surprised to get him but, for whatever reason, he didn’t feel it was right for him at Southampton”.
Monk insists Swansea are “moving along nicely” but if they do need a pick-me-up this weekend they are returning to a place where they have recent happy memories.
Full-back Ryan Bertrand could make his first start of the season after making an appearance as a second-half substitute against the Dons, while Steven Caulker is expected to shrug off a bout of illness in time to feature against the Swans. I think we’re just guessing what that message really means.
“Of course, we can play better but we’re playing in a way where we’re solid and looking to do the right things”.
Swansea were dumped out of the League Cup by Hull City on Tuesday – their third game in a row without scoring a goal since their impressive 2-1 win over Manchester United.
Swansea have failed to score in their last three competitive matches, and are next in action against Southampton on Saturday.
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“But the time he chose to leave the club he wasn’t first choice in the midfield”.
