Duff tells Swansea fans to stop living in the past with Guardiola comparison
Michael Duff is urging fans to accept that “the Swansea way” is a thing of the past and the under-fire manager thinks supporters who are calling for him to be replaced in south Wales must only look at Pep Guardiola to understand why.
Swansea are yet to win seven games into the Championship season and Duff’s defence-first style has left many in the stands fuming. The dressing room may not be completely bought in either after he questioned the players’ abilities to carry out his instructions.
Yet Duff insists that looking at the evolution of Man City boss Guardiola is proof that those demanding the style served up by Swansea going back to the Brendan Rodgers era need to forget former glories and embrace the present reality.
“The heat comes on really quick these days and that’s where we’re at,” Duff said. “But there’s been a lot of change in this football club. Look at bigger clubs than us and better managers than me - the changes at Chelsea, look at Arsenal when [Mikel] Arteta first came in.
“It happens all the time and supporters don’t understand that. But I get it. If I don’t get the time, I don’t get the time. The players are understanding now that we’re coming from different places.
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“I understand ‘the Swansea way’ but there’s more than one way to do it. Football changes. ‘The Swansea way’ was nearly 20 years ago.
“Pep Guardiola was the best manager in the world 10 years ago at Barcelona but every player was 5ft 5 and passed it three yards all the time. I’m pretty certain Pep Guardiola is still the best manager in the world but he has five players who are 6ft 4 because the game has changed. You have to evolve and roll with the times.”
Duff has already received messages of confidence from the club’s American owners and accepts that wins must come soon if he is to remain in post. “I know that’s the priority,” he said.
Pep Guardiola's changing style is evidence why Swansea need to accept that their past success is not relevant in 2023, Michael Duff says.The defiant manager is convinced that his conservative approach will succeed if instructions are carried out and he has pointed to their expected goals against tally as evidence that “teams are not playing through us.”
But only three teams have conceded more before today’s visit of fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday, while only the Owls and basement side Middlesbrough have scored fewer.
In the 1-1 draw away to QPR on Tuesday, when Swansea conceded in the 92nd minute, Duff thought there were signs of progress - having blasted his players for their efforts in the preceding defeats to Bristol City and rivals Cardiff.
“The reason it looks like there was a lack of identity is that we're doing certain things in training and then on matchday they were doing their own thing,” Duff said. "They've been shown that. [On Tuesday] I've said to them, if you can guarantee that shape, togetherness and spirit. Then you can start focusing on other parts of the game.
"It's about sticking to the process. You build teams on foundations, on solid foundations, on non-negotiables, and then you can build on the other stuff. I'm not naive enough to forget that I haven't won a game yet. I understand that.
"But if people have already made their mind up, they've already made their mind up. If I don't win enough games, then I'll get the sack anyway. That's not just me. That's anyone in football.”
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