Monk backs Mourinho for boss award
Garry Monk believes Jose Mourinho's tactical expertise sets him apart in the manager of the year stakes - even though the rookie Swansea boss has his own backers to win the end-of-season award.
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew, another candidate for the award after leading the Eagles from relegation candidates to mid-table safety, suggested Monk should take the prize for his work at the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea were tipped for relegation by many pundits at the start of the season but 36-year-old Monk has guided them to the club's best-ever Barclays Premier League points tally and the Welsh club are currently closing in on what would be their highest finish of eighth.
But Monk was unequivocal where his vote was going, saying: "I think Jose Mourinho is without doubt the manager of the year.
"Chelsea have won the League Cup and they are just about to win the league.
"They have been unbelievable and Chelsea are probably the perfect example of how to win games in different ways.
"This is how you win championships, by having different ways to win and different ways to get results."
While Mourinho and his Chelsea players are preparing for a Stamford Bridge party this weekend, Monk has his own big occasion to look forward to with Stoke visiting the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
Stoke are three points behind Swansea in ninth spot and Monk admits the match has the feel of a title decider with the two sides playing for eighth and what many consider as "the best of the rest" tag outside the top seven who have competed for the European places.
"It has that type of feeling and it needs to be that way," Monk said.
"Finishing eighth will feel like the perfect end to the journey we have been on.
"We wanted to finish in the top 10 and we have got a great chance to consolidate on Saturday, but we have to try and cement ourselves in eighth place."
Swansea defender Neil Taylor has completed a two-match suspension and returns for Stoke's visit.
Taylor is set to reclaim the left-back spot from Jordi Amat while Ecuador winger Jefferson Montero has recovered from the thigh problem which forced off him during last week's 3-2 win at Newcastle and should start.
Winger Modou Barrow is included in the squad after being recalled from a loan spell at Nottingham Forest but Swansea are without injured quartet of Bafetimbi Gomis (hamstring), Kyle Naughton (ankle), Tom Carroll (ankle) and Wayne Routledge (ankle).
Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam will wear a protective mask after breaking his nose in training.
Defender Geoff Cameron has not trained all week because of a hamstring problem and faces a late fitness test.
Forward Peter Odemwingie will be in the squad again having made his first appearance in eight months but is not in contention for a start.
Stoke manager Mark Hughes insists he will continue to set ambitious targets for his players as he has no interest in lowering expectations for an easier life.
The Potters could equal last season's record Premier League points tally of 50 with a win at Swansea on Saturday, giving them the chance to set a new mark with three matches after that.
Hughes is on course for his second top-10 finish in as many seasons since taking over from Tony Pulis - the club having never achieved the feat in the Premier League previously - and believes that is partly down to the demands he places on his players.
"Expectations are always high and we have tried to work with it, not dull it or make it lower than actually our capabilities," he said.
"It is easier to underplay what the potential of the group is and then overachieve but I've never done that.
"I've always tried to get people excited by what's ahead of us and that comes by raising expectations of what they are capable of.
"It can end in tears, you can upset people when expectations are higher."
Source: PAR
