Graham Potter is loving joining the ‘lunatics’ and getting involved in the hurly burly of the Christmas fixture bonanza.
The Swansea City boss has for the past few years been able to put his feet up with the family at this time of year as the Swedish league had already finished.
But he will be taking training on Christmas Day as the Swans look to recover from the defeat at Hull on Saturday when they face Aston Villa at the Liberty on Boxing Day.
Then there is the visit of Wigan just three days later before the New Years’ Day game at Reading rounding off a packed programme of four games in 11 days.
“For the last eight years I’ve come back to the UK and watched other people and thought ‘you lunatics, what are you doing?” said Potter.
“But I’m looking g forward to it.
“When you’re here you understand what it is and it’s a fantastic time. It is better when you win so at the moment we are not happy but we need to respond and prepare to play a good team an Aston Villa.”
Potter admits it has been a turbulent time for the Swans following relegation from the Premier League last season and the sacking of Carlos Carvalhal and the departure of several players.
But he believes he is beginning to stamp his authority on the squad which is currently 12th in the Championship – though the former Ostersund manager admits it is still a learning curve.
“We have had a lot of turbulence at the start, a lot of upheaval and change dealing with relegation from the Premier League,” added the 43-year-old.
“We have been competitive in terms of results and we have used the group in a good way and there is a depth to the squad and there are signs of how we want to play.
“But you have to be good at that and better than that if we are to turn them into results. That’s where we’re at.
“I am humbled by the support I have had from everybody at Swansea City and the supporters.
“It has been a big move, a family move from having lived in another country for seven years so you have to adapt to that but I’ve really enjoyed it.
“It’s a good challenge, a good set of players who want to improve and get better.
“I can do better myself and I am the first to say we all need to improve.”
The Swans face a Villa side still getting used to a new manager in Dean Smith and who let a two goal lead slip as they crashed to a 3-2 defeat at home to Leeds on Sunday.
Potter added: “They’re a team with really good players. Dean’s come in and improved things there and the environment there’s improved. If you look at their squad it’s as good as anybody in the league and we expect a tough game.
“They’re a big club in the Championship. They’ve invested quite a lot and they’ll probably be one of quite a few clubs wanting to be back in the Premier League.”
Potter will hope Wilfried Bony shows no ill effects from his first start of the season against Hull.
The £12million striker bagged his first goal of the season but came off after an hour having complained that his groin was feeling tight.
“We’ll see if he can recover for Villa, to be fair we’ll see how that process goes. It’s a short time if you’ve just played your first match after such a long time,” Potter said of Bony who missed nine months with a cruciate ligament injury.
