Swansea City

Garry Monk: 'Champions League qualification unrealistic for Swansea City'

By Miles Jolliffe, Reporter | 12 September 2015

Garry Monk says that Jonjo Shelvey's claims that Swansea City could this season qualify for the Champions League are "unrealistic".

Swansea City manager Garry Monk has dismissed suggestions from Jonjo Shelvey that his side can qualify for the Champions League this season.

The South Wales side stand fourth in the Premier League table ahead of Saturday's game away at Watford, but Monk admits that maintaining that position until the end of the season is unlikely.

"I'm all for positivity, but Champions League is a little unrealistic," Monk told reporters. "But we are a good team, and when we are focused and good I think we are a match for anyone.

"Let's not get carried away – it's only four games so let's see and I'm sure after 10 or 15 games you will see where you are really going to be competing for and what your realistic aims will be so let's wait until then before making judgements. We'll see.

"But by the end of last season we were trying to fight for that last Europa spot. We couldn't quite get there and Southampton deservedly got it, but hopefully if we can have a similar season to that it would be a realistic aim."

The Swans last season finished with 56 points, four behind a Europa League position and 14 behind the Champions League qualifying spot taken by Manchester United.