Swansea City Ladies appoint Chris Llewellyn as new head coach
SWANSEA, WALES - 23 MAY 2021: Laura Davies of Swansea City Ladies celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Orchard Welsh Premier Women's League fixture between Swansea City Women and Cardiff City FC Women at the Llandarcy Academy Of Sport, Swansea, Wales. (Pic by FAW)
Swansea City Ladies have appointed former Welsh international Chris Llewellyn as their new head coach.
Llewellyn, who previously spent time coaching in Swansea’s men’s academy, replaces Colin Staples after he stepped down from his role in June.
His first task will be to take charge of the Swans as they face CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Women’s Champions League on August 18 in Cyprus.
“It is an exciting time. It is the first time for me to be involved in a Champions League qualifying group,” said Llewellyn on his appointment.
“I have watched a few of the sessions lately and the girls are really looking forward to it, the opposition will be tough, but any Champions League game is going to be.
“They have done well in the pre-season games leading up to it, so they are ready to go.
“The girls had an excellent season last year, and obviously the aim of every team is to progress year in, year out and we can gauge that in the Champions League.
The Welsh champions lost 3-0 to Apollon Ladies of Cyprus in the first round of qualification last season.
Llewellyn hopes that his Swansea side can improve on their performance last year as they return to Cyprus.
“They (Swansea) played well in the competition last year but unfortunately lost, so we are hoping for another good performance and a good result as well.
“We have had a few chats and all we have told the girls is to leave everything out on the pitch.
“We will approach the game slightly different to what they have in the past.
“Hopefully we can be more on the front foot and get after teams rather than being in a deep block and invite pressure.
Llewelyn has also reassured fans that his side will play the Swansea way: “We want to go after the opposition, hopefully, win the ball high, and score goals.
“It goes through the club, even when I worked in the academy, it was all about the DNA of the club being based around possession football.
“At the end of the day in the Champions League, it is about winning the game as well.
“The coaching staff has come up with a plan that we think will work and hopefully the players can implement it.”
[Featured Image: FAW]
