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League Cup final: Brendan Rodgers tips Swansea to beat Bradford

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments204

Brendan Rodgers and Michael Laudrup

Brendan Rodgers is tipping his former club Swansea City to win the League Cup final on Sunday, despite crashing 5-0 to his current team, Liverpool.

Swans boss Michael Laudrup apologised to fans for the "nightmare" at Anfield on Sunday, saying "we got slaughtered".

Liverpool manager Rodgers predicts a "tight" League Cup final for the Welsh club against Bradford City.

But he added: "Hopefully they can replicate the last Wembley trip and win."

Swansea's previous Wembley encounter was to return the club to the top flight for the first time in 24 years, with a 4-2 victory over Reading in the 2011 Championship play-off final.

But the Welsh club were far from glory in the Premier League at the weekend with their slump to Liverpool - albeit with a weakened team as Laudrup attempted to keep key players fresh for what they hope will be their first major trophy.

Laudrup had opted to leave top scorer Michu and Wales captain Ashley Williams on the bench against Liverpool.

Nevertheless, Rodgers said he had instructed his players not to underestimate the club he left in May 2012 for Merseyside, and that the Welsh club are still favourites and under pressure to win on Sunday against League Two's Bradford.

"They'll go into the game as clear favourites, for sure," Rodgers said.

"Bradford - obviously I know [manager] Phil Parkinson well and he's done outstandingly well to get his team there.

"They've beaten Premier League teams before and as you've seen in the final last year, Liverpool v Cardiff, they can be tough games so I'm sure it'll be tight, but if you look at the quality of the Swansea team, and the players, hopefully they can replicate the last Wembley trip and win."

Rodgers said Swansea now needed to "regroup again and refocus and get it defensively right".

He added: "It's something I'm sure they'll prepare well for this week and hopefully they'll go to the final with high hopes to get their first trophy."

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204 comments

  • Comment posted by bilbo, at 08:51 19 Feb 2013

    @3 Andy. Looking a bit silly there mate. Michael Laudrup is Swansea manager.

  • Comment posted by Sue Denim, at 08:49 19 Feb 2013

    3. Andy
    "Really Mr Rodgers,,,,You are hardly going to say `I think we are going to get beat`. Silly boring mind games. Of course you think you are going to win. I wanted you to win, but now after this stupid comment I hope you get trashed!"

    Ummmm... Brendan Rodgers isn't Swansea manager any more.

  • Comment posted by User0516677080, at 11:19 19 Feb 2013

    As a Bradford fan we've heard this from 5 of the 6 higher division teams we've knocked out already. And unlike anyone else who've got to a final, we started in round 1.

    As for this 'massive pitch' nonsense... I've had a look and we've won at Notts County and Watford who's pitches are the same size as at Wembley, and Wigan who's is only 1 yard narrower.

    We could get beat, we might not.

  • Comment posted by charlessy, at 08:40 19 Feb 2013

    Never underestimate the power of the Bradford Spring!

  • Comment posted by D-JGLR, at 15:15 19 Feb 2013

    @133 Good call. The ball boy (man) was totally in the wrong. I hope Bradford win not only because of that, but because they are from league 2. It could finally reignite the magic of the cup.

  • Comment posted by User0034243644, at 15:33 19 Feb 2013

    @DC (134)

    Sorry, I know that EVERY blog is really about Liverpool, regardless of the title or topic.

    But would it be really heretic and shameless of me, If i said i sometimes get bored sh*tless with Liverpool FC?

  • Comment posted by Billy Shears, at 15:20 19 Feb 2013

    great story bbc, manager who left said team tips them to beat lower league opposition.
    shock horror

  • Comment posted by User0995833270, at 09:12 19 Feb 2013

    Calm down people, this is obviously part of a normal press conference where he's been asked for an opinion and given it and because it's a slow news day it winds up on the BBC sports page...don't think Rodgers is setting himself up as a guru, just saying what he thinks, apparently this is some sort of crime to some people...

  • Comment posted by mopeysky, at 11:13 19 Feb 2013

    Personally, just being a little spiteful. I hope Bradford win.
    I was neutral about this game till that idiotic ball boy behaved like a stupid little kid and the fact he's a spoilt little brat the son of the club chairman he should know better.
    Come on Bradford!

  • Comment posted by Gonchong, at 15:31 19 Feb 2013

    The whole ball boy thing has overshadowed a great defensive performance by Swansea.

    Chelsea fans feel robbed, but Swansea were leading 2-0 with 10 mins to go, so would they have scored after 170 mins of not scoring against Swansea, probably not

    Swansea should use the width to make it count, but Bradford are great giant killers, should be a good game...

    ...its like a cup final for both teams :)

  • Comment posted by User0034243644, at 15:08 19 Feb 2013

    Like a lot of others, I was disgusted by the actions of the Swansea ballboy (especially his twitter admission that he was there to waste time) and I think the game should have been replayed for that (and no, I'm not a Chelski fan!)

    Based on that, I hope Bradford stuff them.

  • Comment posted by User0073346504, at 10:41 19 Feb 2013

    Premiership side against League 2 side and he thinks the Premiership side will win?

    He should open his own tipping service with insight like that.

  • Comment posted by User0945044844, at 13:59 19 Feb 2013

    @DC,
    How did you conveniently forget the extra 19 goals scored and a goal difference improvement of 11 goals?
    You can label those 5. and 5.

  • Comment posted by Drasticus Maximus, at 19:25 19 Feb 2013

    Rodgers has also tipped Man United as favourites for the PL and England to have some rain this summer.

    No wind up intended towards Liverpool fans. But this is a bit of a silly article on a statement not worth quoting.

    Having said that if Bradford hold their own we should get a cracking cup final.

  • Comment posted by 2008marcus, at 10:28 19 Feb 2013

    This could end up as one of the most one sided finals for years and one of the highest scores. Swansea are going to love playing on a massive pitch whereas Bradford are not going to fancy chasing a ball for large periods of the game. Last saturdays game will not come into this and must say 5/6 nil could easily be on the cards.

  • Comment posted by halfmanhalfpastry, at 13:15 19 Feb 2013

    As a neutral, I agree with pro-Swansea comments. I think Laudrup called it correctly: 1-0 at half time I'd have been thinking about bringing Williams, Michu and Rangel on at 60 mins, but 3 goals in 10 mins effectively wrote the game off. Nothing but respect for Swansea - top to bottom. Overachievers - a nicer-to-watch Everton !

    Liverpool, on the other hand...

  • Comment posted by bilbo, at 13:41 19 Feb 2013

    @98 what do you do when you aren't here....get your kicks by pulling the wings off flies maybe?

    @96 I can see Rinky's point there. I thought some of the football was as good as i've seen this season. Especially leading up to Enrique's goal. Hopefully the players are getting comfortable with the system and methods now :-)

  • Comment posted by User0034243644, at 14:39 19 Feb 2013

    Headline of the article hardly does Rodgers any favours, does it?! He tips a Premiership team to beat a League Two side!

    Wow! Super-brave prediction, that, top pundit or wot?

    Think BR will be less than pleased with the article-writer, made him look a right plonker!

  • Comment posted by ImaHornet, at 13:19 19 Feb 2013

    Really looking forward to this final, not too fussed about who wins but should be a good watch..Goodluck to both teams

  • Comment posted by User0232975456, at 09:53 19 Feb 2013

    Can I have a full page report too if I predict that Bradford will win?

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