Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has admitted he is extremely proud of what Swansea City have achieved.
The Spaniard was at the helm of the Swans before departing for Wigan in summer 2009 and ahead of the clash between the two clubs at Liberty Stadium on Saturday, Martinez says that everything Swansea have done on the way to becoming a Premier League club again has been well-deserved.
"I'm really proud of what was achieved in my time at Swansea, and it will be an emotional return for me," Martinez told reporters.
"I hope that even if they don't show it, the Swansea fans respect the job I did when I was there.
"We got the club moving in the right direction, and in view of the fact that Swansea gained promotion to the Premier League after I'd gone, I don't think anyone can say my decision to leave was such a bad one."
And Martinez made it clear that none of what the Welsh club had achieved was because of him.
"I can't take any credit for getting Swansea into the Premier League, that's all down to Brendan Rodgers," Martinez added.
"But I think you could see at Manchester City the other day that Swansea still play with a lot of confidence. Not many other teams will go to Eastlands and put 500 passes together.
"They will certainly be a tough proposition for anyone at home, and from a footballing point of view I could think of better times for Wigan to be playing them."
