Michu: Swansea following Barca blueprint

Swansea midfielder Michu says his side are trying to emulate the playing style of Barcelona.

The Spaniard believes the style of training under Swansea manager Michael Laudrup can help the south Wales club play the attractive football mastered by the Catalan giants.

“The workouts are similar to what I was doing in Spain because Laudrup is more or less the same as he when he was in charge at Getafe or Mallorca,” Michu told reporters.

“It is true that the rivals are more physical. But to play in Swansea you do not need much physical work because we want to play like Barca.”

Michu, who made the switch to Liberty Stadium from Real Vallacano in the close season, is accompanied by compatriots Angel Rangel, Chico Flores and Pablo Hernandez at the club.

And the 26-year-old believes that the large Spanish presence can help Laudrup’s side thrive.

“We’ve been called the Swansea Spanish and the Spanish Armada, the usual sort of stuff,” he said.

“But much quality has come from our country. Swansea is a family club which was in the third level four or five years ago and is now competing with the best teams in the country and most of the world.”