Carlos Carvalhal can make history as a Swansea City manager on Saturday, but insists his focus is on the here and now of Premier League survival.
The Portuguses manager takes his team to his former club Sheffield Wednesday for an FA Cup 5th round tie, knowing that victory would take him further in the competition than any Swans boss since 1964.
But Carvalhal has promised he will rest some players to protect them for the League battles ahead, rather than go flat out for FA Cup glory.
“We won’t take any risks and there will be changes because I will protect some players, I’m absolutely sure about that,” said Carvalhal.
“Ask me to stay in the Premier League or win the cup, and I say Premier League because it is more important to the club. As a manager it would be fantastic to be with the trophy.
“I was at Wembley with Sheffield Wednesday (in the 2016 Championship play-off final) and I loved it, I want to go back there in my career.
“But I am not selfish because I understand the priority of the club – and that is to stay in the Premier League.”
Carvalhal rotated his squad in previous rounds against Wolves and Notts County.
Swansea still had enough to win those ties, albeit after replays, and Cup progress has come alongside excellent league form.
Carvalhal has taken 14 points from 21 for Swansea to climb off the foot of the Premier League and escape the bottom three.
The former Wednesday manager must now try to maintain that momentum without cup-tied pair Andre Ayew and Andy King and a raft of injuries ruling out the likes of Leroy Fer, Wilfried Bony and Renato Sanches.
But he said: “We will not change our path compared to what we did in the past.
“We are playing against a good side in the Championship and it is very difficult to play at Hillsborough.
“We are underdogs there, not because we are worse than our opponents but because we are outside our main competition which we are completely focused on.
“We will try our best to go to the next stage and if we win it will be fantastic. But if we do not get to the next stage, then it is OK.”
Carvalhal’s successor Jos Luhukay has taken Wednesday into the fifth round for the first time since 2014 by knocking out Carlisle and Reading.
But the Dutchman had to wait until Tuesday’s 2-0 home win against Derby, his sixth league game, to register his first success in the Championship.
“The reality is injuries have given him the same problems as me in my last games,” Carvalhal said.
“But when some of the players are back I think they are strong enough to be in the top places of the division.”
