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"It's a fantastic achievement - I think we've done Swansea proud this week by winning both the FAW Premier Cup and the Football League Trophy. At the end of the match, I could see exactly what it meant to 30,000 delirious Swans fans. They were fantastic.
"When you lose a match like this, sometimes you can be on a bit of a downer afterwards, but winning the competition can only lift us for our remaining league matches. This has to be a springboard to the Championship. Winning the trophy can galvanise us to go on and get promotion. The financial rewards are important in terms of helping us build for the future. We hope that things can snowball from here.
"At last I can celebrate after a cup final. But the reality is that our priority remains the League and earning promotion. Our cup wins have brought in a considerable amount of money, maybe up to half a million pounds, but it's important we kick on from here and earn another promotion.
"I have been two years as manager of Swansea. I felt I was ready after serving a long apprenticeship under some good managers and it's gone well so far. We won promotion last season and hopefully we will go up again this time, but I've learned such a lot along the way.
"It's just a great feeling at the moment, with the saves Carlisle's goalkeeper was making in the second half I was wondering if it would be our day. They are a very good side who kept coming back at us. "
City goalscorers Lee Trundle and Adebayo Akinfenwa also spoke after the game, Trundle commenting :
"The supporters are different class, it was a great day and we won it for them. I love the big occasions, as a footballer you want to play in games like this. I know what I'm capable of and have confidence in my own ability. Carlisle are a very good side and made it tough for us."
While London-born Akinfenwa said :
"I'm ecstatic, Trundle got it to me and I just had to push it in. Carlisle were tough and took us all the way, but we just had to keep going until the end and the goal knocked the stuffing out of them. It's a beautiful feeling - I can't explain it - it's great for the fans and just the best day of my life."