Europa League: Valencia vs Swansea: Laudrup Hails 'Fantastic' Win

Michael Laudrup hailed one of Swansea's biggest ever win in their history after the Welsh side dismantled 10-man Valencia 3-0 in the Europa League.

Goals from Wilfried Bony, Michu and Jonathan De Guzman gave Swansea a delightful win over group favourites Valencia, who had to cope with ten men for much of the game after Adil Rami was given a straight red card.

The Danish manager believes his side could have won by more than three goals, but was nevertheless quite happy to come away from the Mestalla with all three points.

"It was a fantastic game," Laudrup said. "Of course a red card early in the game has an influence but in my many years in football I have seen sides go down to 10 at home in these kind of games and still win. But we dominated the game from the first minute to the last minute.

"We scored three goals, and before the second we had two or three huge chances to score and it could have been even more. I am very pleased about winning here against a big side like Valencia."

Laudrup is not going to get carried away with the result, though, as momentous as it might be, with the Dane insisting there is still plenty of work to be done if Swansea are to progress from the group.

"It sets us up for the next five games," he said. "No-one expected us to get three points in Valencia and now we have the next two games at home.

"If we don't win the next game at home we're back where we started, but we can be happy today about this great result.

"I don't know whether we are favourites, I wouldn't say so after one game. Not many expected this but it is only one result out of six."

While Laudrup, who led Swansea to League Cup victory last season, stopped short of terming this win as the greatest ever in the club's history, he did admit it was quite a huge night.

"I have only been here for 15 months so others can say where this ranks in the club's history, but it is a fantastic evening and fantastic result," Laudrup added.

"I've had some great nights as a manager, it's difficult to take in because this has only just happened.

"But I am so pleased for everybody because now they know they can play against the biggest clubs in the biggest stadiums without any problem and that's great to see.

"There were lots of our fans here. I think they had a great night, one of those to remember, this experience is great for them."

Valencia manager Miroslav Djukic will now be under tremendous pressure after also struggling in La Liga this season, losing three of their first four games. But Djukic admitted the match was always going to be difficult after Rami saw red.

"We wanted to improve on our defeat at Betis, but it was very difficult with the red card after 10 minutes," he said.

"We were anxious without the ball and we have to keep working and trying to do better.

"I am the same as the players. I am responsible for the situation, it is not just about the players. The performance was not good enough but it is the same for everyone."

Laudrup, though, did have some sympathy for Djukic. "He will feel bad, I am a coach and I understand how he feels but these things can happen at a big club and he has to stay strong," he said.

"It was difficult with the red card because Bony is going towards goal and Rami is the last man, but there is a player coming in from the side.

"I think some referees would give a red card and others not, but he brought the red card out immediately so he had no doubt."