Swansea City left-back Martin Olsson told Sweden’s TV4 channel that he hopes that Graham Potter can get the Swans promoted “at the first attempt”.
The Ostersund FK boss is rumoured to have said his goodbyes at the club, and will manage his final game on Saturday before their long break during the World Cup.
The 43-year-old, who has guided Ostersund from the Swedish bottom division to the top – including Europa League qualification, was expected to be confirmed at the Liberty Stadium as early as Friday, but an announcement next Monday or Tuesday is now most likely.
Olsson admitted that he didn’t know too much about Potter, but said:
“I have not really seen so much of him, but I heard stuff. He wants to play (good) football and Swansea also wants to play good football.
Hopefully he can come and pick us up at the first attempt.”
“I just know he’s trying to play football. As long as he’s doing well, it’s positive, but I do not know so much about him. – Martin Olsson
Taking us back up to the Premier League at the first attempt is some ask given the expected exodus of players this Summer. Potter will potentially have to build a new team and a replace a number of first-team players who seek a return to the English top flight. Potter’s appointment would suggest something more of a long-term plan for the Swans, who have seen their former philosophy evaporated over the last 3-4 years.
The demands of the Premier League haven’t provided an opportunity to try and restore it, with managers simply coming in trying to keep us in the division – “firefighting” as Alan Curtis put it. Relegation to the Championship now provides us with a chance to reflect back on our mistakes, and re-plan and make significant changes to get back on track. It’s a case now of the board making the most of that opportunity and making the right changes.
Fellow Swede and goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt also offered his thoughts on the possibility of Potter arriving, and he believes he’d fit the “philosophy that the club want to embrace”:
“I have followed Östersund’s fantastic journey. Then I’ve talked with Ken (Sema) the times he has been here. There has hardly been anything negative to say.
“I think the football that Östersund has played would fit the philosophy that the club wants to embrace.
“We may have come away from the club’s identity the last two seasons if you want to be objective.
“Swansea has always stood for a positive football and being a bit different in Britain.
“But it may have disappeared a little over the last two years as we played for survival. It has ultimately been more important than the philosophy that built the club.
“But if it is clear or not, I have no idea. But he is probably one of the candidates who has been highlighted and it feels like a reasonable choice.” – Kristoffer Nordfeldt
Nordfeldt has been tipped to be our new number 1 goalkeeper next season, with Lucasz Fabianski attracting the interest of a number of Premier League clubs. He has also been linked with a move to the Bundesliga in Germany.
