Swansea City: Rodgers delighted to link up with performance ace again
BRENDAN Rodgers has added an old mate from Chelsea to his Swansea City backroom staff — and Garry Monk is already being treated like John Terry.
Glen Driscoll has arrived at the Liberty Stadium as Swansea's new performance consultant after a decade spent working with top managers and players at Stamford Bridge.
Rodgers believes Swansea have pulled off a major coup in recruiting Driscoll, who left Chelsea in the summer after new manager Andre Villas-Boas reshuffled the club's staff.
And Swansea skipper Monk is already reaping the rewards of Swansea's latest appointment.
"The gaffer's brought Glen in from Chelsea and he has been excellent with me," Monk said.
"He's had experience with top players. All the physios at Swansea have been great, but he has brought in a few new things and I felt much stronger at Wolves last Saturday than I have been feeling."
In one of his first acts since arriving at the Liberty, Driscoll has fitted Monk with a belt which supports his back in a bid to help him overcome a long-standing foot problem.
"Apparently John Terry had the same sort of injury as me — foot trouble because of the back," Monk added.
"My back is fine now, but the belt just tightens things up and gives you more support.
"It gives you a few more per cent of power.
"I think I'm the first person to wear a belt around a pair of football shorts, but if it works then great."
Driscoll worked with Rodgers in the Reading Academy before being head-hunted by Chelsea during Jose Mourinho's reign.
He went on to work under Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti.
"He has massive experience," Rodgers said.
"He was head of medical at Chelsea, but what is unique about Glen is that he also has a strong background in football conditioning.
"Initially he worked with the youth department at Chelsea, then he progressed up to overseeing the first-team medical department.
"When Avram Grant took over he moved Glen into the conditioning role and he was first-team conditioning coach under Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti.
"So we are getting someone who has experience in both fields and his role will be to look at performance outside the field.
"He can work in a couple of areas for us and he will be another great signing for this club."
Driscoll has not signed a fixed contract, and has instead been appointed "until further notice", Swansea say.
The 36-year-old's brief is to oversee and support the medical and performance departments of the club.
As well as assisting Monk, he is currently working on the rehabilitation programmes of Alan Tate and Ferrie Bodde.
"It's funny how things work out," Driscoll said.
"I worked with Brendan in the Academy structure at Reading and then found myself reunited with him at Stamford Bridge.
"Obviously it's disappointing to leave Chelsea after a decade, but that's football for you.
"And I'm proud of the fact that I played my part in Chelsea's most successful era."
Monk, meantime, believes he is edging ever closer to full fitness after his long-standing troubles.
"I just need to keep that run of games going," the central defender added.
"If I get four or five in a row then I will be much better.
"I don't think I look out of place or anything."
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па ако треба и столчињата за новиот стадион ќе ги земиме од Либерти стадионот на Свонси
На прва помислив дека се работи за де Јонг од М. Сити, ама после ми текна дека за од Твенте напаѓачот мислиш.
