Former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United striker Michael Owen believes Swansea City are ‘paying the price for being so successful last season’.
After an impressive 9th place finish in the Premier League – not to mention the Capital One Cup win and Europa League qualification, expectations have now gone through the roof following the success story of 2012/13 – Laudrup’s debut season at Swansea City.
Not only that, but within a season, the Swans’ predicted finish amongst bookmakers and pundits went from relegation to an 8th place finish in the English top flight.
Some Swansea fans expected even more in 2013/14, after seeing what Michael Laudrup was capable of after less than 12 months in charge in a League he has no experience whatsoever – not as a player, coach or manager. He also made some promising signings over the Summer to add to the expectations and potential levels that were already there since the end of last season.
However, the challenge and demands of the Europa League cannot be under-estimated, and while it’s not an excuse for our lack of progress in the League this season, it’s definitely had an effect on our performances.
Michael Owen, now a BT Sport pundit, sympathised with Laudrup and his squad of tired players:
“I really rate Swansea,”
“I like the way they play, but I just think it`s so hard when you are playing in the Europa League as well as the Premier League.
“I believe Swansea are now paying the price for being so successful last season.
“They must have played ten more games than a lot of sides in the Premier League, and they haven`t got the kind of squad the Champions League clubs have got.
“Swansea have picked up extra injuries in the Europa League, and even for the players who are fit, it is very difficult to play games every three days.
“You have the travel as well as the extra games to cope with, and that makes it very difficult to stay sharp.”
Michael Owen also said he’s been impressed with Laudrup, but feels sorry for the Swansea manager:
“I have been impressed by Michael Laudrup, he has carried on the good work done by Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers,”
“But I feel sorry for him this season.
“It`s not rocket science. Swansea are playing a lot more games this season and they haven`t got the squad to cope.
“The Europa League can be thrown upon you and you are not really prepared for it.
“Swansea could do with another four or five top-quality players with all the games they have got, but can you justify spending the money to bring them in when you may only be in Europe for one season?
“We saw something very similar with Newcastle last season. They were right up there two seasons ago and got to the Europa League, then they ended up fighting against relegation last year.
“This season they are not in Europe and they are right back at the top end of the table again.”
Owen believes that the Swans would finish in mid-table once again if it wasn’t for the cup competitions, but even so, he doesn’t expect them to be involved in a relegation battle:
“I wouldn`t judge Michael Laudrup on where Swansea finish in the league this season,” he adds.
“If you forgot about all the cup competitions and every Premier League club just played 38 Premier League games, I would see Swansea finishing in the top half, either eighth, ninth or tenth.
“But I would say you`ve got to knock them down five or six places this season because of their European commitments.
“I don`t see them having any problems are far as relegation is concerned, but I do see their league position being affected.”
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