Source: Team_Talk
Martinez relishing Swans return
Wigan gaffer Roberto Martinez is looking forward to returning to Swansea for the club's first-ever Premier League tie on home soil.[LNB] Martinez knows the Swans inside out having played and managed the Welsh club for a combined total of five years prior to taking over at Wigan in 2009.[LNB]The Spaniard insists he 'gave his life' in trying to help the club while at Swansea and is remaining hopeful the home fans will give him a warm reception on Saturday.[LNB]Martinez knows there will be some fans who did not appreciate his exit after he decided he has taken the club as far as he could, a job which Brendan Rodgers finished last season having won promotion.[LNB]"When you see the real emotions that football fans can have, it is a positive thing," he commented. "My links to Swansea are so, so strong that I respect any views from the fans. I will take it and, in a way, I accept their views. [LNB]"But many of the fans understand the situation a little bit better now. The football club is in the Premier League, so maybe it was not too bad a decision for the football club when I took it.[LNB]"It is going to be great occasion and I am just grateful that destiny is going to bring me down there for the opening Premier League game at the Liberty Stadium.[LNB]"I don't think it is down to me to say how much I contributed to Swansea. I am just really proud that, while I was there, I gave my life to try to be successful with the football club, and I felt we did that.[LNB]"In an ideal world, I would get a good reception from fans who appreciate what I have done. But I don't think it works like that.[LNB]"I expect one group of fans who will let me know they are not happy and others who, looking back, have changed their mind. Others have always been supportive throughout."[LNB]Martinez felt he had to leave Swansea two years ago because of the financial restrictions on him.[LNB]"I didn't think we could have challenged for promotion at that time," the 38-year-old continued. "We needed a bit of money to go to the next level. We could not produce that. Brendan came and did a fantastic job. He brought the club together and got his ideas across.[LNB]"Now they have a team capable of going to Manchester City and having over 500 passes. They are going to surprise many teams in the Premier League tactically. They will control games with their possession.[LNB]"I think they are going to be the shock team in the Premier League. I believe they are well-equipped to stay up."
