The Swans ended their pre-season training camp in Austria with a defeat to United Arab Emirates's Olympics team. A goal in the 16th minute from Mohammed Abdulrahman was enough to see the Swans beaten 1-0 in Flachau. As expected, the majority of players that had featured for 30 minutes in Wednesday's win over Inter Baku were included from the start. Ashley Williams captained the side while triallist keeper Gerhard Tremmel got his first chance to impress in a competitive friendly. They faced a UAE side that were good technically and played some neat football. After a slow start, Andrea Orlandi went close as his volley was parried wide for a corner by the keeper, before Ryan Harley fired his effort just wide of the far post. But the Swans fell behind to a soft goal as Abdulrahman capitalised on hesitation in defence after Tremmel made a good save. Neither side really created much in terms of clear chances, but Harley went close again following a fine through ball by Stephen Dobbie while the Scot then fired straight at the keeper. Craig Beattie then saw his attempt whistle just past the post before the break. Alan Tate replaced Williams at the break while a string of changes came on the hour mark in order to spread the game-time around the squad. Caulker headed wide from Mark Gower's corner and Danny Graham almost capitalised after the keeper spilled a diving header from Tate. But the Swans couldn't find a way through a determined UAE side. It was certainly no classic, but the game gave the group another opportunity to top up match fitness and sharpness before Wednesday's home friendly with Celtic and Saturday's clash with Real Betis at the Liberty.
The Swans squad have been seeing double this week as Garry Monk met his own lookalike. German keeper Gerhard Tremmel joined the club on trial this week and met up with the squad in their training camp in Obertraun. And the players have been taking double takes as they struggled to tell the difference between their captain and the former Bayern Munich and Salzburg keeper. Some players have been caught out as they have been spoken to in German while they thought they were speaking to Monk. Monk didn't feature in today's game with United Arab Emirates's Olympics team, but was almost KO'd before he event left Obertraun. So used to putting his head to the ball, he almost took the wing mirror off the team bus as he clattered into it - head first - while boarding. Following the game, the squad headed to Salzburg, where they will spend the night before returning home tomorrow.
So home come only one Swans fan went to Austria to see them Swans? They usually take a few 100 with them.
To be fair this was not like other tours which were widely advertised, I don't think people knew where they were going until a few days before, this was meant to be a private
Ashley Williams insists Swansea City will reap the benefits of their Austrian training camp. The club return home from their week-long stint in Obertraun today after playing two friendly matches. The first saw Brendan Rodgers's side beat Azerbaijani outfit Inter Baku 3-1 on Wednesday before a 1-0 defeat to the United Arab Emirates' Olympics team yesterday rounded off the trip. Despite defeat in the last game, Williams - who captained the side - believes it has been time well spent in the Austrian Alps. "I think this week has been fantastic for us," said Williams. "It has allowed us to work on the tactical side of things and we have taken in two games that have given us match fitness and sharpness. "The guys have bonded further and I think the trip has served us well. "It will only help us as we approach the start of the Premier League season." The Swans now face Celtic on Wednesday at the Liberty before Real Betis arrive in South Wales for the club's last friendly before the opening league game against Manchester City in a fortnight's time. And Williams expects more positives to come following this week's tests. "Every time we play in pre-season the opposition has got tougher and tougher," he added. "And that's what we should get again this week. "But it all helps prepare us for the season, and the whole squad is looking forward to getting the league underway."
Colin Pascoe hailed Swansea City's training camp in Austria as perfect preparation for the Premier League campaign. The Swans spent a week in the Austrian Alps to train in private surroundings, which gave them the opportunity to work on tactics and gel further as a team. Based in Obertaun - where Everton, Wigan and Chelsea's youth and reserves teams have used recently - the Swans also played two friendly matches. They beat Inter Baku, of Azerbaijan, 3-1 on Wednesday before a narrow 1-0 defeat to United Arab Emirates's Olympics squad yesterday. The squad flies home today with home friendlies against Celtic on Wednesday and Real Betis on Saturday next on the agenda. Pascoe, assistant to Brendan Rodgers at the Liberty, believes the club will take a string of positives from their Austrian trip. "It has been a great week for us," said Pascoe. "Obviously the result was a little disappointing in the last game, but this trip is about more than that. "The new players got the chance to bond with the rest of the lads and we worked on certain things in training that will help us in the league. "The games were good exercises and we are better off for them." The club hope to clinch the signings of two players this week as they close in on Wayne Routledge and Leroy Lita. The Newcastle winger and Middlesbrough striker are expected to have their medicals tomorrow, with the pair featuring in this week's friendlies a possibility if their potential moves go through in time. German keeper Gerhard Tremmel, meanwhile, is expected to fly to South Wales following a short trial in Austria. The former Bayern Munich and Salzburg keeper featured in yesterday's defeat but Rodgers wants to take another look at him.
