Swansea manager Michael Laudrup: Michu is the bargain of the season
Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup believes Michu is "the bargain of the season" after scoring in a 2-0 victory over Chelsea
Michael Laudrup believes Swansea City’s Michu is “the bargain of the season” after the striker scored in a 2-0 victory over Chelsea in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge.
The 26-year-old scored his 16th goal in 23 appearances in all competitions for the Swans in the first half after capitalising on Branislav Ivanovic’s untimely slip.
Swansea substitute Danny Graham doubled the visitors’ lead on the stroke of full-time after another Ivanovic mistake, and Laudrup lavished praise on Michu.
“I would never expect a new player to come in and score so many goals, but I can’t really say what expectation I had for Michu,” said Laudrup.
“What he is doing in terms of goals is incredible, especially when you think he’s never been a number nine. He’s always been a defensive midfielder coming from deeper.
“But against Chelsea he had one chance, one goal. That’s a top-class striker. You’d pay a lot of money for that.”
He added: “He was the bargain of the season, we know that. But we’re happy we’ve found the right players.”
Laudrup, who succeeded Brendan Rodgers at the Liberty Stadium in June, signed Michu for a princely £2m from La Liga’s Rayo Vallecano in the summer.
Unsurprisingly, the forward’s form has attracted interest from a host of clubs across Europe, including Arsenal and Zenit St Petersburg.
However the Swans boss is confident the former Celta Vigo man will stay at the Welsh club.
“Well, to be honest, I’m not the one putting the price tag on him,” added Laudrup. “We all know the situation – the general economic situation in the world – so there really aren’t that many clubs who can buy him.
“There are some here (in England). In Spain there are only two and I think Barcelona and Real Madrid have enough players. Italy, I don’t think so. They’re trying to sell.
“Bayern Munich in Germany so really there is only few, few clubs and Michu likes it here.
“He’s happy with the team where he is so I’m really not afraid that something is going to happen because I’m so sure he will stay with us for the next five or six months.”
“I don’t know in the summer, but still I can’t really see who could sign him. I don’t know how much he’s worth. Ask my chairman.”
