Swans head coach Michael Duff has made it clear the derby day question post Bristol City caught him on the hop and he was speaking after a disappointing home defeat.
Talking this afternoon Duff said, "I think from my point of view you would rather win both games and get promoted. Absolutely, I think there’s one thing I will say I think you caught me on the hop in terms of a really disappointing performance after the Bristol City game. So was I focussing in the game in two weeks time ? No. I’m an outsider coming in, there’s games in football in the UK that everyone knows about. Cardiff, Swansea everybody knows about it. And now I’ve moved in to the area you get told pretty quickly how important It is to the area, to the people, the supporters, the city. You don’t need to tell me the significance of the game, I’m fully aware of that”
Those comments almost two weeks ago could maybe be forgiven in the heat of yet another loss, this time at home to Bristol City, however the Swans boss is unforgiving on the way his players performed in that defeat. So the same applies surely ? Yes, he is learning about the importance of his role at the club, and learning at times as well how big a job he has undertaken. "Like I said the comment was taken a little bit out of context in terms of emotion after the game, a really disappointing game, but we’ve had ten days to prepare for this. If I didn’t know about it, you know people like the chef, he’s got the countdown every day, the kit men. The staff are full of supporters. All the players live in the area, you know because we are sort of at the end of the read a little bit. It’s not like other clubs that I’ve been at”
It seems the Swans head coach is slowly coming to terms with the expectation on his shoulders and the fact it isn’t ‘just another job’ We have said it on numerous occasions already. This is the biggest management role he has undertaken, and most certainly when you reflect back on Michael’s career the biggest, we believe - the biggest position with more demands on him than he has ever undertaken.
If he has grasped that ideal, and if he has as he says is beginning to understand the role he is in, and the importance of it then a little bit more hope comes along with this weekends game. That said with a ten days mini pre season now under the belt, he now knows a little bit more about the expectation on his shoulders. Now, possibly the players could well do their bit and step out of their comfort zones of a very nice life on very nice money and look at that shirt they wear and give it some appreciation.
The real countdown is upon us.