Coleman Says Swansea City Will 'Surprise People'

Swansea-born Chris Coleman believes his former club will 'surprise a lot of people' as they prepare for their first season in the Premier League.

Coleman, who managed in the Premier League himself for four years, believes the Swans can be successful in the top League of English football - somewhere we haven't competed in for 30 years.

Coleman talked about their opening game, a tough one to say the very least away at Manchester City, who finished 3rd last season. The Swans are 12/1 to win and he said:

'I'll have a little tenner on that.

'It's not out of Swansea's reach to get three points up there, I think Swansea will surprise a lot of people this season.

'Brendan is a shrewd cookie, he's clued up, he knows he'll have to improve the squad and he needs the investment to do that.'

Coleman also compared Swansea City to Blackpool, as the Seasiders also reached the Premier League last year via the play-offs, but they narrowly missed out on survival - finishing just a point clear of staying there for a second successive season.

'I don't think they need to change their style of play, but they maybe need to be a little bit tighter than they are,'

'Swansea are similar in style to Blackpool, but they're a better team than Blackpool.

'They've got a lot more steel about them — they're better defensively.

'Ashley Williams is playing in the Premier League now, but he could have been playing there a couple of years ago.

'He's good with the ball, quick and strong.

'Swansea as a squad have got better players than Blackpool, they're tighter and better in possession.

'In the Premier League they won't have as much possession as the Championship and a lot of teams will play the same way.

'They'll have to be organised out of possession and get men behind the ball.

'But there's absolutely no reason they can't be successful.'

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