Swansea City captain Ashley Williams has admitted that he feels "relieved" that the club failed to qualify for the Europa League.
The Welsh side missed out on a spot in the second-tier European competition as a result of last weekend's 4-2 defeat to Manchester City.
The Swans competed in the tournament last year after winning the League Cup, but Williams believes that the club are better off without the Europa League at the moment due to the demands that it puts on squads.
"If I'm honest I'm relieved we have not qualified," the Daily Star quotes Williams as saying.
"I really enjoyed playing in it the year after we won the League Cup, but it is very difficult and you see most teams in the Premier League suffer when they play in it. But that certainly doesn't mean we would be happy to sit in eighth for the next five years."
Manager Garry Monk has guided Swansea to their best finish in a Premier League season by sealing eighth spot.
Danielle Joynson
