United game starts "crucial" period for Swans
Michael Laudrup
By Chris
December 21 2012
Swansea City boss Brian Laudrup has highlighted how his side's game against Manchester United on Sunday starts a critical period for the South Walian outfit. The Jacks currently sit tenth in the Premier League table - 6 points behind the Champions League places and 8 points above the relegation zone.
Laudrup's men have lost their last two league games narrowly - at home to Norwich and away at Spurs.
Defeat at Carrow Road ended a 6-match unbeaten run for Swansea, though prior to the Spurs game which followed, they secured safe passage to the League Cup semi-final for the first time.
Swansea's brand of expansive, attacking football continues to win plaudits from commentators across the country - but United enter Sunday's game fancied by the bookmakers to become the third team this season to claim maximum points at the Liberty Stadium.
Laudrup, who previously managed Mallorca, said: the club are "going into a period where a lot of things will be settled for the season".
He added: "From now until the beginning of February we have nine games in the league, two semi-finals and one, maybe two, FA Cup games. They are crucial to what we will do for the rest of the season.”
However, despite the importance of Sunday's game, the Swansea boss said he would prefer to beat Aston Villa at home than United, as victory against the Red Devils would "put so much focus on the club at time where we need to focus on games".
United have won both of their two previous Premier League games against Swansea - winning 2-0 at Old Trafford, and 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium last season.