Garry Monk claims he knows the source trying to upset Swansea after training ground bust-up 'blown out of proportion'

Monk confirmed earlier this week that 'a couple of incidents between certain players' happened during a training game but claims someone is purposely trying to unsettle his side

Andrew Baldock
Thursday 17 April 2014 15:42 BST
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Garry Monk, manager of Swansea
Garry Monk, manager of Swansea (Getty Images)

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Manager Garry Monk believes an outside source is trying to unsettle Swansea after newspaper reports of a training ground bust-up surfaced this week.

And the Swansea head coach says he has "a good idea" of where the information emanated from.

Swansea confirmed on Tuesday there were "a couple of incidents between certain players" during training in preparations for last Sunday's home game against Barclays Premier League title chasers Chelsea.

"I will tell you the truth. It was an incident that was blown out of proportion, it was handbags," Monk told reporters on Thursday.

"It was all over and done with, no problems whatsoever, and then it gets blown out of proportion. We have got a good idea of the source that it has come from to try and unsettle us at this time.

"But I think you could see on Sunday (against Chelsea) just how unified the group is with the performance.

"I have my ideas of who it may be and stuff trying to unsettle us, but that definitely won't be happening with this group.

"Everyone is fine. There are no problems whatsoever. It was really just nothing. When you are in a training environment and you have got 20 or 30 men with intensity and working hard, these things happen.

"It could be a bad tackle, it could be anything. It was dealt with at that moment in time, everyone was fine and we moved on. Then the media get hold of it and blow it out of proportion.

"The source, where they mention the stuff they mention, clearly comes from the outside because some of it was just bizarre, what they were saying. But that's what people try to do, they try to unsettle you."

Monk, who confirmed that no player has been disciplined, says that training has changed since he took over the Swans hot-seat from Michael Laudrup in early February.

"I've asked people to step up, and training is more intense and the tempo is higher, and they are all doing it," he added.

"They are a good group of lads. You get these things now and then, whether from five-a-side or shooting practice, because they want to win, but it's dealt with.

"Things happen on the pitch and behind closed doors, every single day in football and other sports. The players don't make a deal of it, but others do and you deal with that.

"Whatever happens on the training ground will stay there, but everyone's fine, there are no problems. The players have laughed about it because it's nothing.

"It could be anything, a mistimed tackle and it's handbags, it's dealt with there and then and we moved on.

"But people will try and unsettle you, try to find an edge, but the group's reaction shows how together they are and how morale should be.

"It's not a biggy for us. Outside it's a big deal because it's the Premier League.

"It happens, it's football. Millions of times you see things written and reported what happens at clubs.

"The Premier League, it's 24/7 compared to other leagues, always under the eye of the media. You accept it, stories come out time to time and you get on with it."

Monk, meanwhile, confirmed that striker Michu faces a fitness test on his swollen ankle ahead of Saturday's trip to Newcastle.

Swansea are just three points above the relegation zone with four games left - Newcastle away, Aston Villa and Southampton at home, followed by Sunderland away.

PA

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