Shechter Was Happy At Swansea Despite Poor Form

Former Swansea City loanee Itay Shechter says a lack of confidence in him from then-manager Michael Laudrup didn’t help his progress during his spell at the Liberty Stadium.

The striker scored just one goal during a season-long loan move, and he revealed that playing a bit-part roles and never getting a decent run in the first half meant he was always going to find it difficult to perform to his true potential.

Shechter comes up against some of his former team-mates on Saturday night when Israel face Wales on Saturday. He’ll be up against the likes of defenders Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor and former Swan Ben Davies.

Shechter said:

‘When I was in Swansea the team had an amazing season, but for me it was not so good. I scored only one goal, which isn’t good enough, but when the coach told me I was playing I always gave 100 per cent,’

‘Michu got a lot of goals and it is not easy to replace a striker that is scoring every game. When the coach wants to play only one striker and there is Michu it is very difficult.

‘And when you don’t have the complete confidence of the coach it’s not easy.

‘If I had been given the opportunity to play four or five games in a row, I believe I would have given more to the club.

‘I played at Newcastle and I thought I did well. It was my first start and we won the game.

‘Next I played at Liverpool, but after 45 minutes I was taken off, which was difficult. That didn’t help my confidence.’

But despite struggling for games and goals as a result, Shechter revealed that he enjoyed his year in South Wales, and so much so that his wife cried when he told her the news that they had to leave.

‘I’m happy I went there because it was a really good experience,’

‘I liked my life in Swansea, I liked the club, the players and the staff. There were good people there. The chairman was very good, everyone was nice.

‘When I had to leave Swansea my wife was crying. It was good for me, much better than Germany. It was a good place for my family.

‘I still speak to Angel (Rangel) and send him messages now and again, and I also speak to Jonathan de Guzman, who has moved to Italy.’