Swansea City, the overwhelming success story of recent Premier League history, have a new hero in their 26 year old hitman, Michu. Now that he has agreed an extension to his contract, the fans will be all the more enamoured by the Spaniard.
Even if the extension is a prelude to offers from bigger clubs, in signing the deal, Michu has guaranteed Swansea a huge pay day should they finally relent to any forthcoming offers.
After Swansea’s fantastic first season in The Premier League Brendan Rodgers left for Liverpool. Micheal Laudrup took over and a shaky start led many to believe that Swansea were suffering from ‘second season syndrome’ in the Premier League. But, under the Dane’s composed tutelage, The Swans have gone from strength to strength and few would argue that, while Rodgers laid great foundations, Laudrup has improved Swansea again this season.
Swansea are a passing side whose strength is in possession. But it is widely agreed that, while they kept the ball well last season, they didn’t always do much with it. This year their possession has more purpose. They don’t hold onto the ball for the sake of it. They use possession better, more progressively and more incisively. And who better to profit from this great service than the ice cool Michu?
He reminds me a lot of Raul – a rare player who seems completely unaffected by what’s going on around him. Composure personified, Michu seldom gets flustered in the box. He’s deceptively languid but his precision and timing have been honed to devastating effect – his 16 league goal offer ample evidence of this impact. And he really looks like a player who enjoys his football.
Swansea’s result against Chelsea on Wednesday consolidated their position in the tie after a superb away win in the first leg which they added to the away scalps of Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool.
What a season it’s been for Swansea fans. Aswell as enjoying the comforts of mid-table security they can look to a Wembley outing in the spring. It’s not just Michu then who is currently ‘living the dream’.
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