Huwebes, Abril 28, 2011

We will not let up, says Rodgers

BRENDAN Rodgers insists Swansea City won't ease off at Millwall this weekend because the Liberty factor could be key in a play-off campaign.

Rodgers concedes automatic promotion is now a long shot with Norwich six points ahead and only two regular-season games to come.

But the Swansea manager reckons his team will have plenty to drive them on in the next nine days, even though their top-six place is secure.

Sneaking into second place may be highly unlikely, but Rodgers is keen for his team to finish in the top four, as that would guarantee home advantage in the second leg of the play-off semi-finals.

"Certainly this Saturday we want to put out a strong team and look to get the win if possible," Rodgers said.

"We want to finish as high as we can, because that can give you an advantage further down the line.

"Some people might prefer to play the away game second in the play-offs, but I would want to be at home in front of our supporters in the second leg.

"I want to try to do everything we can to get ourselves in that position."

The final play-off placings are hard to predict for the moment, although the most likely scenario as things stand is that Swansea will face Rodgers's old club Reading over two legs next month.

The Royals are also the side with the best chance of knocking Swansea out of the top four.

While Swansea face Millwall and then Sheffield United, Reading have fixtures against Coventry and Derby, two sides with nothing to play for.

And Rodgers has told his players they cannot allow fatigue to be a factor as they look to achieve the spectacular over the next month.

"You have to do what you have to do to succeed," he added.

"And if that means going through until the end of May, that's what we've got to do.

"The good teams always do it. Their seasons are always long because they are in competitions right through to the end, and that's our challenge now.

"If you want to be comfortable, finish the season in mid-table and then go on your holidays then you go and do that.

"But I am ambitious for this club and this group of players, and we want to succeed.

"We want to validate all the hard work we do every day with some success."

Fabio Borini and Mark Gower are both back in training ahead of Millwall after minor ankle injuries, but Tamas Priskin has returned to Ipswich as a result of a season-ending knee problem.

And while there is disappointment over Priskin's departure, Rodgers believes his players are in decent shape as they prepare for their season to go into overtime.

"It's important we keep the players refreshed mentally — that was why we went away last week," he said.

"That worked, because we got a good return of points over Easter and our physical condition in the Ipswich game was absolutely magnificent.

"That was a tribute to the work we have done all season, to our training programme and method, and we have to continue that now."



Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503366/s/14798edf/l/0L0Sthisissouthwales0O0Cnews0Clet0Esays0ERodgers0Carticle0E34979230Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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