Luke Williams | We need to be ferocious and motivated

Luke Williams has urged his Swansea City squad to be "ferocious" as they prepare for the south Wales derby at the Cardiff City Stadium this afternoon (12.30pm).

As assistant coach and head coach, the Swans boss is unbeaten in the fixture. 

Williams has been in charge two derbies, the 1-1 home draw earlier this season and a 2-0 success last March, having also been part of Russell Martin's Swansea staff when they beat the Bluebirds 3-0 in 2021. 

The Swans will be going in search of a sixth victory in eight south Wales derbies, and the head coach says his players will need to be bring not shortage of edge and intensity as they make the short trip east in front of a sold-out away end.

"It might sound corny, but it's the thought in your mind of what the fans will be able to do," said Williams.

"It's the thought that they can go out feeling so happy and they can properly enjoy it. We have a game on the Tuesday [against Sheffield United] and I fly to Europe on Sunday to watch a player, then come back to prepare for the next game.

"But, for the fans, I want them to have three days [to celebrate a win]. I love that thought of them being so happy, coming back to Swansea and then being out in Swansea, reliving the game and singing the songs. That's the best.

"So I expect my players to be ferocious and be highly motivated for the game.

"How that looks in terms of how much ball we have and whatever, I don't know. But I know the lads are going to be in a very intense state of mind.

"There is a different emotion [surrounding the derby] and there's no point trying to hide from that. There's no point trying to pretend it's exactly the same as all the other games. It's not."