Swansea City boss Vitor Matos says facing Welsh rivals Wrexham provides a different "emotional charge" compared to other Championship games.
Swansea City boss Vitor Matos says facing Welsh rivals Wrexham provides a different "emotional charge" compared to other Championship games.
The two sides face each other on Friday, 19 December at Swansea.com Stadium in the first league contest between the Swans and the Dragons since 2003 (20:00 GMT).
Despite a geographical distance over more than 100 miles between Swansea in south west Wales and Wrexham in the country's north east, Matos insists he is treating the game as a derby.
"I think from what I feel from our supporters, I think we can call it a derby, straight on," said Matos.
"It's a game with a different emotional charge, but in these games we need that emotion and the passion to drive us forward and that I think that's quite important.
"For that we need clarity, we need discipline, we need identity and that's what we will need to focus on our game.
"We need to respect Wrexham. What they've done in the recent years, being promoted, and how they are doing this season as well.
"If we look back on the last 10 games, they have only lost one. So I think that deserves, like all teams, our respect and deserves a lot of credit.
"It will be a good game, 100%, and a game that we need to be on our toes to compete, and that's really important."
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Wrexham's rise up the EFL has brought an unprecedented three consecutive promotions under manager Phil Parkinson.
The north Wales club have also enjoyed global publicity under the ownership of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac.
Swansea, meanwhile, also have major celebrities on board with rap star Snoop Dogg and former Ballon D'Or winner Luka Modric owning minority stakes in the club.
But while Matos is more than aware of the Dragons' success story - which has been documented in the Emmy award-winning docu-series Welcome to Wrexham - he insists he's only focusing on matters on the pitch.
He said: "It speaks for itself. I think it's a story that had a good start and it has grown and to see a team with three consecutive promotions and now in the Championship and competing, I think is impressive and I think that's what we need to respect as well.
"But we are playing in our stadium with our fans and that needs to mean more.
"I think in the moment that we are, we need this passion and this emotional charge to push us forward and to compete in this game."
Swansea go into the game after a 2-1 defeat at Stoke City in the Championship.
But Matos' side have won their past two home games - against Oxford United and Portsmouth - and the Portuguese coach hopes that will give his side an advantage.
"We know that, especially for us as a team, our stadium and our fans [being at home] means a lot for us," Matos added.
"It's a special place to be, and I believe that the connection between the team and the support is growing and we need to have that connection to become stronger."
"Every game is good to have after you don't win because it's always an opportunity to bounce back and to get to the place you want to be."
Category: General Sports
