Swansea's Cup success the result of a long-term plan, Michael Laudrup says
Swansea boss cites club's strategy of playing attractive football under a series of managers as paving the way for their first-ever silverware
Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup said his side's emphatic League Cup final win over Bradford City was a fitting reward for the long-term strategy the club have pursued.
The South Wales side swept to a 5-0 victory over their fourth-tier opponents at Wembley Stadium on Sunday to mark their centenary year with a first major trophy.
As a Premier League side, Swansea went into the game as overwhelming favourites, but 10 years ago they were in a position not dissimilar to Bradford's, narrowly avoiding relegation from the Football League in 2003.
In later years, as Swansea climbed the English league pyramid, the club developed a reputation for playing attractive football under successive coaches Roberto Martinez, Paulo Sousa and Brendan Rodgers.
Laudrup took over when Rodgers left for Liverpool last year and the former Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid playmaker believes the club's maiden trophy success owes much to the work put in before he arrived.
"The philosophy has been there for the last six to seven years and it makes it easier, because every time you get a manager with the same philosophy you look for the same kind of player," he said.