After a hectic off-season of more goings than comings, Williams’ side come into their EFL Championship opener against much-fancied Boro’ at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday as underdogs.
Having lost to Micheal Carrick’s side home and away last season in two of the Swans’ poorer showings, Williams is keen for his side to put on a strong performance by playing on the front-foot from the get-go with confidence.
All too often the Swans would be second best against the higher placed sides of the English second tier last season but having had the off-season to both physically condition and shape his squad, Williams now wants his team to produce on the pitch.
“It’s a really tough place to play and they will be a difficult opposition to open with. There will be a lot of excitement and energy,” said the Swans boss in his pre-match conference.
“They are a very good side because of two reasons. They have a good squad and have good staff and will be a threat, it will be a hell of a game.
“We have to play everybody home and away, so let’s get on with it and be excited and take the opportunity and take the game and impose ourselves on them rather than be worried and too nervous to try and play.
“I hope we improve from where we were last season. I really hope that we can, and people can see that too.
“That’s what I want is for people to see that the group is moving forward in different directions and can be optimistic about the team.
“We want to be better than that but also it is the way we play. I want us to consistently play well, week-in, week-out.
“We are all working hard to finish in a much higher league position. No one can question how hard the players have worked and the commitment they have shown in pre-season.
“We expect ourselves to [compete with the league’s bigger teams]. As a group, we will prepare them to go toe-to-toe and not be terrified by anyone.
“We went to Norwich at the back end of the season for example and they are a fantastic team, highly motivated and were going for a play-off position.
“We went there and played a tough game and didn’t look like an underdog team. We have talked about that and having that mentality wherever we go. That is how we want to appear this season.”
The Swans offensive business to date has been savvy with tricky South Korean attacker Ji Sung Eom, powerful midfielder Gonçalo Franco and Slovenian striker Žan Vipotnik arriving for minimal fees with high ceilings of potential, whilst goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux has the unenviable task of replacing player of the season Carl Rushworth between the sticks.
However, it does not take much to see that beyond the starting eleven the back-up is worryingly thin on the ground. Admitting the squad is light on depth for the vigour’s of the Championship season, the Londoner is expecting more arrivals this month but is stressing that the club will only look to bring the right caliber of player in that will improve his side.
“I think we had too many before and now we need to bring in a few more,” continued Williams.
“That would be helpful, and we are working really hard to do that. I have no doubt that will happen in the near future.
“I would be concerned if the squad is the same size in two months’ time because of the accumulation of games. It would be difficult for the group as it is to withstand that, but that is not going to happen.
“It’s more important that we bring the right people in and if that takes us a little bit longer, then so be it.
“I’m really pleased [in the four new signings]. We’ve already seen good traits and I think we’ve brought in some really good people which is important here. They also just so happen to be really good at football.
“It’s clear that we are trying to bring some young players into the squad that potentially can help us immediately and it’s exciting that they could develop into really good players.
“We would like people to come here and be here for a long time, play well from the beginning and improve.
“I feel we realistically are four really good players away from making us a better team.
“That would be the ideal number, but they have to be players of real quality not just to fill the squad – that is no good to us.”
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
