Rodgers wants passion and quality

Last updated : 04 February 2011 By BBC Sport

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers has called for both "passion and quality" from his players in Sunday's Welsh derby against Cardiff City at the Liberty Stadium.After winning 1-0 at the City Stadium in November the Swans want the first double in the fixture's history.

"It's very important the players play with passion and obviously with quality on top of that," said Rodgers.

"I'm very excited about the game. I thoroughly enjoyed our last experience and the result more importantly."

Rodgers knows that the clash is crucial, not only as a derby, but also in terms of the Championship promotion race.

The Swans, who have won three successive league matches at the Liberty Stadium without conceding a goal, lie a point behind second-placed Norwich City and six points adrift of leaders Queens Park Rangers.

Cardiff, last season's beaten Championship play-off finalists, are on 48 points so trail their Welsh neighbours by two points as they also battle for a place in the top two.

Dave Jones' men are unbeaten in four but have not won away since 13 November, and the Bluebirds travel to Swansea without a win in Wales' second city since 1997.

"[The game] has a double edge to it - both teams are up there doing very, very well, and for us it's the continuation of a wonderful home record which we've got this year," added Rodgers.

"We know that we are not just representing the football club it's the city and the people of Swansea.

"This group of players don't need reminding, but every now and then [I tell them] it's all so important we have players that play for the shirt. We are representing a very proud football club and a very proud history.

"So that is also something I remind the players and no more so than the occasion of a derby game."

On producing the pride and passion, Rodgers said: "It's easy to distinguish between the two because it is something that we inherently believe in and I when I came to the club part of my vision was ensuring the representation of the people of Swansea.

"And every time you put on that white shirt you are not just thinking of yourself you are representing a city."

It wasn't as if we played bad against Leyton Orient. For us we were very disappointed that a team that had one shot on target scored twice

Brendan Rodgers

Rodgers is looking forward to a game of quality and has flagged up the threat posed by Craig Bellamy, Jay Bothroyd and Aaron Ramsey, although ultimately he claims he is concentrating on his own side's approach to the derby.

"I think it will be a another very very good game. They are a team full of outstanding players especially at the top end of the field with [Craig] Bellamy and [Jay] Bothroyd and one or two others that they gave got.

"Young Aaron is a wonderful talent. He is obviously short of match fitness, but that's the reason why he has gone to Cardiff. They are really talented players at this level.

"I don't spend my time worrying [about the opposition]. I only worry about my own team. I just worry that we continue to play the good football and I worry that we play with our same charisma and aggression that we do in every game .

"When we do that the results that we have already shown - we have won more games than anyone in the league. It's important we continue that mentality."

Rodgers insists that the 2-1 FA Cup fourth round home defeat to Leyton Orient is already consigned to the bin, especially after the Swans responded with a 2-0 league win at Bristol City last Tuesday night.

"It wasn't as if we played bad against Leyton Orient. For us we were very disappointed that a team that had one shot on target scored twice," said Rodgers.

"We had the big percentage of the ball and didn't make use of it, and the double whammy was to get the big team at home.

"We can't be disappointed for too long. We had the chance to go forward we didn't take it. Let's get our positive mindset back again. Let's get playing our football how we play.

"The players responded magnificently to that. In a wonderful demonstration of our identity as a team both with and without the ball."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport