Swansea
City boss Garry Monk has been named the Barclays Premier League Manager of
the Month for August and Chelsea striker Diego Costa has won the Player
award.
The Swans won all three of their league fixtures in the first month of the
season, including a 2-1 opening-day victory over Manchester United at Old
Trafford.
The Welsh club also beat Burnley and West Bromwich Albion at the Liberty
Stadium, keeping a clean sheet in both of those matches.
Monk was short-listed alongside Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, whose team
also won their three games and are ahead of Swansea at the top of the
division on goal difference, Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert and Mark Hughes
of Stoke City.
He attributed the award to the group effort of his Swansea squad and staff,
but says it is a case of 'starting again' after a break for international
football.
"It’s a collective thing as far as I’m concerned," said Monk. "It’s not just
for me, it’s for all of the guys.
"It’s going well for us. We’ve had the international break so there has been
a couple of weeks between games for us, so we’re starting fresh and we’re
starting again really."
Chelsea striker Costa has scored in each of his side's league matches since
joining in the summer from Atletico Madrid.
The 25-year-old has been an instant success in England, notching in the wins
over Burnley and Leicester and scoring twice in the Blues' 6-3 win over
Everton at Goodison Park.
Monk and Costa will be in direct opposition on Saturday when Swansea play
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
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