Francesco Guidolin has urged Swansea to win their ‘Cup final’ by putting another nail into Aston Villa’s Premier League coffin.
The Swans manager knows the Villans have to win Saturday’s game at the Liberty Stadium and will come out fighting despite their off-field problems.
And he has warned his side – eight points above the drop zone – that they will have to match that intensity to claim the win that would leave them on the cusp of safety.
The Italia, 60, said: “We have to play with the attitude of a Cup final and I want to see this from the players. That mentality will be key.
“It will be a difficult match as we have a lot to lose and nothing to gain. If you win, it is expected, if you lose it is not great.
“Villa come here knowing they have to win, they have nothing to lose. They will be only thinking about winning in this stadium, this is their last chance.
“It is the most important game of the season.
“We will have to play well and we hope to have a good result to set us up for the last part of the season.
“But the future is not important, only the present and that is the match against Aston Villa.
“I know this situation that Villa are in. I have many matches behind me and I know the difficulties of matches like this.
“I want to see my team play well, with concentration, and intensity.”
Guidolin has every sympathy for opposite number Remi Garde who has been powerless to stop the Midlands giants sliding into the Championship.
He added: “It is not an easy situation for him. I do not know him but I look at his work in France and he is a good manager.
“If he is still in charge then he must be a good manager, because in another situation he would be sacked.
“If he is in charge now then it is because the club believe in him.”
Guidolin will return to the dug-out after missing three games due to a chest infection which forced him into hospital.
The ex-Udinese chief’s return comes with speculation over his future at the club when his contract runs out in the summer with chairman Huw Jenkins targeting old boss Brendan Rodgers.
But Guidolin, who wants to carry on next season despite the health issue, insisted: “It’s not a problem for me.
“I have an agreement with the chairman that is very clear. I said before and I repeat, the future is not important, the present, this moment is.
“The call came two months ago to help this club and I am doing it. My head and my heart is in this situation.
“Other things are not important. The agreement is clear, four months and then we will see about the future.
“What is important at the moment is only to save Swansea.”
