Thursday 13 October 2016 18:07, UK
Bob Bradley believes his appointment as Swansea head coach will help pave the way for more managers from Major League Soccer to work in the Premier League.
Former USA manager Bradley is the first American to manage a Premier League team, after leaving French club Le Havre to replace the sacked Francesco Guidolin.
The 58-year-old believes the arrival of players like David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard has helped to exponentially boost the quality of the product in the MLS over the past decade.
Bradley is optimistic the continued growth of Major League Soccer will in turn lead to a greater number of US coaches and players coming to the Premier League.
Bradley said: "We're still growing as a football country. We've made progress.
"When MLS grows, some big names start to play there, the attention gets bigger rather than just every four years, but we're still growing.
"I'm one of the older coaches and you have to work and get experience to hope to get an opportunity, but there are other coaches who are going in the right direction. [Numbers of] players and coaches, referees, fans, journalists are growing."
With Swansea fourth from bottom with one win in their first seven games, Bradley will have his work cut out for him to turn the club's season around.
His first game in charge is a difficult one as the Swans travel to the Emirates on Saturday to take on third-placed Arsenal but Bradley is very pleased with how his first week of training has gone.
"The response of the players has been fantastic," Bradley said. "Training has been sharp. The mentality for training has been really good.
"I couldn't ask for more from a group of guys so far. When I have thrown different ideas at them the response has been terrific. Little by little - that is how we will grow as a team.
"As I get to know the group, there are a lot of very nice guys and they got along well. You can see the camaraderie of the group so that is a great starting point. From there it is just making sure we are all together."
Bradley says getting to know his existing players has been his primary focus since taking charge but he did admit discussions have already taken place with Swansea's chairman Huw Jenkins and head of recruitment Dave Leadbetter about the strengthening the squad in January.
"So far I've not looked past Saturday but yes I've had conversations with Huw Jenkins and with Dave Leadbetter and our scout but that's about starting the process," Bradley said.
"I will be a part of the process. I listen, I have suggestions but most of the work so far has been digging my hands into the group here and getting to know them."
