By Graham Thomas
Luke Williams has only been Swansea City’s head coach for seven months, but he reckons he knows the recipe for derby success against Cardiff City.
El Taffico has it’s own Welsh flavour – laverbread simmered in Brains Bitter – and Williams believes he got a taste for it immediately back in March.
That was when the Swans’ head chef Chris Watkins, their internal number one fan, addressed the players and was lauded as the motivator behind their 2-0 victory.
Williams has been busy cooking up something similar ahead of this Sunday’s home clash against the Bluebirds – getting the chef to stir the pot with new recruits such as forwards Zan Vipotnik and Eom Ji-Sung, midfielder Goncalo Franco and goalkeeper Lawrence Vigoroux.
Asked if the newbies understood the derby and its significance, Williams replied: “Well, those guys still have to eat, which means they still have to go near our club chef.
“The chef, as you know, is very good with his words and he can speak very passionately. It doesn’t matter if you can’t understand any of it at all, you know.
“There’s also a countdown calendar in the canteen and every day it’s been showing a lower number.
“This isn’t something I’m making up. We have Swansea people through and through here – an army of them and they’re incredible. I love them and they set the tone for all of us.”
https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1826571781924151709
Williams has a perfect, played one, won one, record against Cardiff and the Swans certainly have a firm grip on the balance of power between the two clubs. They will be seeking their sixth win in the last seven derbies.
But even though Cardiff have begun their season with two defeats, have conceded seven goals and are yet to score themselves, Williams sees no advantage in the Bluebirds’ struggles.
“It’s a cup game,” adds Williams. “They just give points at the end.
“They are a very good team, unfortunately. They have lots of good players and carry a huge threat. They have got a bit of everything – they have toughness but they have flair and quality as well, they have experience.
“We have to make a really good performance and be brave because they have everything you need to be a good team in their ranks.”
Cardiff may have crashed to a 5-0 defeat at Burnley last weekend, but Williams made an eyebrow-raising assessment of that contest.
“When you watch the game, you realise that they were actually very good. And it’s a strange thing to say, but they played well enough to win that game, for sure.
“And we know that. We’re not trying to kid ourselves that they’re in a bad place or something like that, but we have to concentrate on us and not try to hope that they come out undercooked or they’re not in a good place.”
It's almost time for another thrilling south Wales derby!
The anticipation is building as Swansea City and Cardiff City prepare to face off this Sunday ⚽
Who will claim the bragging rights this time? Swansea or Cardiff?#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/rnc1DRrak2
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) August 22, 2024
Swansea began their own campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough, that may well have been heavier with better home finishing, but Williams’ side then bounced back quickly to thump Preston, 3-0, last weekend.
