Swansea City can prove pundits wrong - Michael Laudrup

Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup wants his players to prove the pundits wrong as they embark on their second season in the Premier League.

Under Brendan Rodgers, Swansea finished 11th in their debut season in English football's top flight.

Laudrup succeeded Rodgers in June and wants his side to establish themselves in the Premier League.

"We want to show everybody that Swansea is not just a club passing by," Laudrup said.

"It's a club that wants to stay at the highest level for many years and that's a huge ambition to have.

"There are clubs in the divisions below us who want our place. We know it's a huge challenge but we are ready for it."

Former Denmark international Laudrup is well aware of the challenges facing Swansea in their second season in the Premier League.

Midfielder Joe Allen followed former boss Rodgers in joining Liverpool and Laudrup is well aware some pundits have tipped Swansea to be relegated.

The Swans have recruited defender Chico Flores and midfielder Michu with midfielder Jonathan de Guzman and striker Itay Shechter joining on loan.

"I've read over the last couple of weeks a lot of experts saying Swansea is one of the favourites [to be] relegated because second season is the most difficult," Laudrup said.

"I agree that the second season is even more difficult than the first season but we'll just have to show that these experts are wrong.

"I think we have a good team. We've brought in some players with experience as well from the highest level.

"Another ambition is to continue with the same style of football.

"We know that the huge steps have been done here already going from League One [to the] Championship into the Premier. Now we have to put the small ones on top."

Laudrup will get his first taste of the Premier League on Saturday when Swansea travel to Queens Park Rangers for their opening game of the season.

"Pre-season is one thing but now we're starting to play for points and that's what it's all about," Laudrup said.

"One of the things I'm looking forward to is the full stadiums home and away and shows the big interest in this competition, domestically and internationally.

The Swans travel to Loftus Road having never won a league game there, and they have suffered heavy defeats on their previous two trips to west London.

But Laudrup feels past results will have little bearing on Saturday's encounter against Mark Hughes's side.

"I don't pay attention to statistics," he said. "I have seen that we do not do that well when we play at QPR but statistics; they are only numbers on a piece of paper."