By Graham Thomas
Luke Williams has only been Swansea City’s head coach for seven months, but he reckons he knows the recipe for derby success against Cardiff City.
El Taffico has it’s own Welsh flavour – laverbread simmered in Brains Bitter – and Williams believes he got a taste for it immediately back in March.
That was when the Swans’ head chef Chris Watkins, their internal number one fan, addressed the players and was lauded as the motivator behind their 2-0 victory.
Williams has been busy cooking up something similar ahead of this Sunday’s home clash against the Bluebirds – getting the chef to stir the pot with new recruits such as forwards Zan Vipotnik and Eom Ji-Sung, midfielder Goncalo Franco and goalkeeper Lawrence Vigoroux.
Asked if the newbies understood the derby and its significance, Williams replied: “Well, those guys still have to eat, which means they still have to go near our club chef.
“The chef, as you know, is very good with his words and he can speak very passionately. It doesn’t matter if you can’t understand any of it at all, you know.
“There’s also a countdown calendar in the canteen and every day it’s been showing a lower number.
“This isn’t something I’m making up. We have Swansea people through and through here – an army of them and they’re incredible. I love them and they set the tone for all of us.”
New signings on the way? 👀
Luke Williams says Swansea City are set to sign a centre-back and a winger before Sunday’s south Wales derby against Cardiff City ⚽#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/XF7jqO1unZ
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) August 22, 2024
Williams has a perfect, played one, won one, record against Cardiff and the Swans certainly have a firm grip on the balance of power between the two clubs. They will be seeking their sixth win in the last seven derbies.
But even though Cardiff have begun their season with two defeats, have conceded seven goals and are yet to score themselves, Williams sees no advantage in the Bluebirds’ struggles.
“It’s a cup game,” adds Williams. “They just give points at the end.
“They are a very good team, unfortunately. They have lots of good players and carry a huge threat. They have got a bit of everything – they have toughness but they have flair and quality as well, they have experience.
“We have to make a really good performance and be brave because they have everything you need to be a good team in their ranks.”
Cardiff may have crashed to a 5-0 defeat at Burnley last weekend, but Williams made an eyebrow-raising assessment of that contest.
“When you watch the game, you realise that they were actually very good. And it’s a strange thing to say, but they played well enough to win that game, for sure.
“And we know that. We’re not trying to kid ourselves that they’re in a bad place or something like that, but we have to concentrate on us and not try to hope that they come out undercooked or they’re not in a good place.”
It's almost time for another thrilling south Wales derby!
The anticipation is building as Swansea City and Cardiff City prepare to face off this Sunday ⚽
Who will claim the bragging rights this time? Swansea or Cardiff?#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/rnc1DRrak2
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) August 22, 2024
Swansea began their own campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough, that may well have been heavier with better home finishing, but Williams’ side then bounced back quickly to thump Preston, 3-0, last weekend.
Apart from a goalless draw in 2020, the last 16 matches have gone one way or the other, mostly the other if you’re a Cardiff fan. Swansea have won 10. Cardiff have won only five and one was that 0-0 stalemate.
Swansea are 15/2 to win by a scoreline of 2-1, while the same score in Cardiff’s favour is 12/1.
The Swans have also been boosted by the return to fitness of Joe Allen. The 34-year-old former Wales midfielder has yet to play this season after suffering an injured toe in pre-season training, but might be the man Williams turns to for streetwise calm amid the mayhem.
“Joe Allen is in full training so is available for selection,” said Williams.
“We are all happier when Joe is available and can be in the squad. It makes everybody at this club a lot happier, so that’s good news.”
This time last year, Swansea had a head coach in Michael Duff who tried to play down the derby’s significance and suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Williams is unlikely to make that mistake and doesn’t hold back in his description of the intensity of that cooked-up victory taste.
“We are desperate to win because we want to experience that ecstasy again.
“I know how much this means here, how much it means to me, to the players and, most importantly, how much it means to our fans, because I am pretty sure I met every single one of them last time afterwards.”
"I know what this means for the fans"
Manager Erol Bulut says he knows how important the south Wales derby is for Cardiff City fans and players ⚽#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/S5wTpekPXu
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) August 22, 2024
Luke Williams also has a win under his belt when assistant to Russell Martin.
The 3 nil win on 17 October 2021
https://www.skysports.com/football/swansea-city-vs-cardiff-city/447480