Monk: No rift with Laudrup

Swansea captain Garry Monk has leapt to the defence of manager Michael Laudrup amid rumours of unrest at the club.

Reports emerged this week that a number of first-team squad members are unhappy with the methods of the Danish manager, who replaced Brendan Rodgers in June.

Laudrup enjoyed a good start as Swans boss, with three wins in his first three games. But after a tricky run of results in September stories of dressing room unrest emerged, though Monk was quick to quash any talk.

“I can assure you that there is no problem here and everyone is pulling in the same direction,” Monk said in a statement released by Swansea.

“It was quite funny reading an article in the paper yesterday morning saying that the senior players were ready to revolt against the manager. Well I say funny, in fact it made most of the boys angry.

“If people want to try and unsettle us, then fine, because I can guarantee it will only make us stronger.

“If there is a problem then everyone knows that the door to the manager’s office is always open and you are listened to and treated the same whether you are a senior player or a young pro – and that’s the way it should be.”

As well as Monk defending his manager, Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins also denied players had met with him to try and oust Laudrup and his current regime.

“Michael Laudrup and his staff have the full support of everyone connected to Swansea City and will continue to do so during the long season ahead,” Jenkins said.

“Yesterday’s article trying to cause unrest at the club will only help to strengthen our resolve going forward.”