Jonathan de Guzman ready for league cup final with Swansea City

 

Jonathan de Guzman has warned his Swansea team-mates their attitude must be spot on if the club's first major cup final appearance is not to end in disappointment.

The Swans reached the Capital One Cup final, where they will face League Two Bradford, after a goalless draw in the second leg of their semi-final against European champions Chelsea sealed a 2-0 aggregate win.

While Eden Hazard's sending off for kicking a ball boy has grabbed most of the headlines, it should not detract from Swansea's achievement, which comes just 10 years after the club sat rock bottom of the Football League.

But Bradford's passage to Wembley is an even more remarkable feat, after the Bantams knocked out Wigan, Arsenal and Aston Villa to become the first fourth-tier team to reach the League Cup final since Rochdale in 1962.

And on-loan midfielder De Guzman, 25, knows it is vital Michael Laudrup's side do not underestimate their opponents come February 24.

"We cannot underestimate because they have beaten good sides to get there," he said.

"It's just a final game and hopefully it will be a 90-minute game in our favour.

"We need to go there with the right mentality and hopefully get that win.

"For Swansea it's just great being in the final, it's a big chance to win it and I think the whole city is looking forward to it.

"I had the chance to play in a cup final in Holland in 2008 (De Guzman scored in Feyenoord's 2-0 win over Roda JC) and we won.

"It was a good final and I have had a little bit of experience and I hope for more of the same this time."

As the only youth-team product currently involved in Swansea's first-team squad, the chance to play in a Wembley final is particularly special for 19-year-old left-back Ben Davies.

The Welsh international expected to be spending the season in the under-21 team, but an impressive pre-season and Neil Taylor's broken leg gave him a chance he has grasped.

Davies, who regularly watched Swansea home and away as a child, said: "It's a massive boost for the club and city. To be quite a small club that has come up through the leagues and arrive where we are today is an incredible achievement.

"So, credit to everyone who runs the club and to the players.

"Personally it's a dream come true to be there. As a kid you always want to play at Wembley, to be going there in a month's time is a big thing for us."

PA

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: Back Spain to shut out Tahiti

The spread betting firms are very slow about pricing up this game and you can understand why. All th...

by Gareth Purnell

iBet: Look To The Lady In The Prince Of Wales

The Prince of Wales Stakes today is regarded by many as the No1 race of the Royal Ascot meeting and ...

by Gareth Purnell

iBet: Favourites have a good record in the Coventry stakes

Today’s St James Palace looks a cracker and there has been sustained money for Dawn Approach since t...

by Gareth Purnell

       
 

Day In a Page

Babies behind bars: A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail

Babies behind bars

A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail
Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm for under 25s

Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm

Is Mosquito, the alarm only under-25s can hear, a blessing or a bane?
The art of living in small spaces: Architects are learning how to make less, more

The art of living in small spaces

Space in cities at a premium so architects are learning how to make less, more...
Special report: The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

After four 'nice' years as Governor of Bank of England, things turned decisively nasty
Zombie nation: Our enduring fascination with a world full of death and destruction

Zombie nation: Our fascination with death and destruction

A new season of shows on Radio 4 is inspired by dark tales of future dystopias. Meanwhile, zombies are marauding in the multiplexes...
Martin Stephen: 'Ofsted says comprehensives are failing the most able but teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

'Teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

It doesn't take a selective system to nurture the best minds, says a former head of St Paul's boys' school.
The retail empires strike back: Can new technology lure us back to the high street?

Can technology lure us back to the high street?

The high street has been bruised and battered by online firms but in-store technology is helping to enliven the retail experience...
The 10 Best new smartphones

The 10 Best new smartphones

Photos, films, music, apps and browsing - the latest mobiles can do it all
Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

McLaren man admits 'failed gamble' with car has left him pinning hopes on 2014 campaign
James Lawton: Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe

James Lawton

Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe
'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong': The true effect of the badger cull

The true effect of the badger cull

'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong'
Theatre review: Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's The Cripple of Inishmaan

First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan

Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's comedy
Girls Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

After 103 years, organisation changes oath to welcome 'all girls, of all faiths, and none'
Steve Tongue: Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago

Steve Tongue

Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago
Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Bradley Wiggins' exit

Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Wiggins' exit

Sky's lead rider says he is in fantastic form for the Tour and happy pecking order debate is over