Roberto Martinez has last laugh over Swansea City

Swansea City fans hold up a banner aimed at Roberto Martinez

By David Dulin
BBC Sport Wales

So the Swansea City fans had their say as they were reunited with Roberto Martinez, but it was the Spaniard who had the last laugh.

Many of the 4,500 who travelled up to Wigan for Tuesday's Carling Cup fourth round clash clearly have not forgiven Martinez for walking out on the club for Wigan 16 months ago.

It is not so much because he left to manage in the Premier League but it because previously he went on the record saying he would have to be "forced out" of the Welsh club.

Not all were unforgiving, though, as some recognised that it was Martinez who built the foundations for where the Swans are today.

When he was handed his first management job by Swansea in February 2007, Martinez immediately set about changing the whole set-up, bringing in a new philosophy.

The aim was to change the way everything was done, introduce a new brand of football and put Swansea City on the map.

Wigan's Mauro Boselli scores the opener at the DW Stadium

He did all that and guided Swansea to the League One title in his first full season. In the following campaign, they narrowly missed out on a place in the Championship play-offs in their first season at second-tier level for 24 years.

Martinez was then lured to Wigan, but the club have continued to build despite accusations at the time of his departure that he had "ripped the heart out of the club".

His successor Paulo Sousa came and went last season, guiding the Swans to within a point of the play-offs and now Brendan Rodgers has taken up the mantle, with the club currently third in the Championship.

Martinez's first reunion with Swansea on Tuesday may not have been an overly pleasant experience for him, but he came out of it victorious with a 2-0 win and a place in the last eight of the Carling Cup.

"It is understandable," said Martinez. "I heard people say I lied to the fans - I never lied.

Martinez watches on with current Swans boss Brendan Rodgers

"What I said at the time was because I felt that way. After that I was interested in what was best at that moment.

"Right now I think fans will understand why I had to leave at that time and looking at the foundations they have, it has brought them stability."

It was clear to see that everything Martinez did at Swansea, he is trying to do with Wigan.

While some of the Latics' results since Martinez took charge have been somewhat embarrassing, and they struggled to stay in the Premier League last season, they are moving in the right direction.

It is not going to happen overnight, and he is still learning his trade, but Martinez can succeed at the club which gave him his break in British football as a player in 1995.

That is not to say they are going to challenge for the title or a Champions League place, but Europe would be the target.

It may well be a few years before they can mount a serious European push via the Premier League, but the Carling Cup could provide a quicker route into Europe.

Martinez said after the win over Swansea that it was "like watching a game in a foreign country" due to the open passing football on show by both teams.

If his Wigan side receive a kind draw in the quarter-finals, supporters could start dreaming of playing in a foreign country next season.

As for Swansea, their fans will be hoping for another reunion with Martinez next season, this time at top-flight level.

And the Spaniard believes their dreams can come true.

"It was great to see that Swansea City are a very, very strong unit, a group full of talent and experience," said Martinez.

"I expect them to get into the Premier League very soon."