Saturday 10 March 2018 07:53, UK
Swansea City boss Carlos Carvalhal insists revenge is not on his mind ahead of a Premier League reunion with Huddersfield counterpart David Wagner on Saturday.
Carvalhal suffered shoot-out agony in the Championship play-offs last season as Sheffield Wednesday manager.
Huddersfield booked a Wembley final date, and then earned promotion to the top flight, and it was the beginning of the end for Carvalhal at Hillsborough.
The Portuguese left Wednesday on Christmas Eve, but he was appointed Swansea manager four days later and has since steered the Welsh club off the bottom of the table and three points clear of the relegation zone.
"I am not this kind of person," Carvalhal said, when asked if the sight of Wagner in the opposite dugout at Huddersfield this weekend would provide extra motivation.
"I don't keep things with me to have revenge on someone. It is important for us and we will try to win like we did before, so there is nothing different."
Wagner, meanwhile, wants his side to forget about the run-in and simply concentrate on getting the three points against the Swans this weekend.
"It makes no sense to think about the next four games, we are in a position where everything is in our hands, one we love to be in," said Huddersfield's manager.
"We fight to survive in the Premier League and we will need to feel an atmosphere in the stadium that's ready for that.
"We are focused on ourselves and our performance to try and hit our high standards. We are aware of how important this game is. It's a chance to get another crucial win in front of our own fans in an incredible atmosphere."
Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy is back in contention to face Swansea. The midfielder has missed the last three matches due to an infected cut on a knee, but returned to full training this week and is expected to feature.
Michael Hefele has been ruled out for between six to eight weeks after knee surgery and fellow defender Terence Kongolo is likely to miss the next two games due to a hip problem.
Meanwhile, midfielder Leon Britton is Swansea's only injury concern this weekend. The veteran, who ended a four-month absence as a substitute in last weekend's 4-1 win over West Ham United, has been nursing a back problem and will be assessed before the trip north.
Renato Sanches (hamstring) remains out, and Swansea are likely to be unchanged with the Ayew brothers - Andre and Jordan - in tandem up front.
It's a massive football match. Whoever wins this game, you're probably looking at two more wins to the end of the season to stay up. It's huge. Huddersfield have been in good form, but this is bread and butter and if they lose this they could be exactly back where they were.
It's unbelievable what Carlos Carvalhal has done, unbelievable. I think having the Ayews just swings it for me, I think they're a little bit more lively for me. It's a game Huddersfield will feel they have to win, and for Swansea it's important they don't lose.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (11/1 with SkyBet)
