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"That's rubbish" Jones says. "It wasn't about desire, it was just on the day they were better than us and won the game.
"Does it mean because we lose a game we don't have desire and commitment? No. They are just words people like to throw around.
"Of course we care, it's our livelihood. Of course we have passion.
"On the day Swansea deserved to win and I said that. But it wasn't because my players didn't show passion or desire."
"It doesn't matter what I say about this gamebecause everybody thinks I play it down.
"I don't give two hoots what people criticise me for. I don't play anything down.
"I understand what a derby means - I've played in a small one myself on Merseyside.
"We know how important it is to the fans and nobody here plays it down - even though people assume we do. We understand it more than people think.
"But it's important because it's not just about the bragging rights, it's about the points at stake and we want them as much as Swansea do.
"Ultimately it's about keeping heads and getting the points; they got them at the start of the season and we want them back."
The points are even more of an issue at this crucial stage of the season, both teams set to do battle at Leckwith desperate to keep chalking off the victories needed to secure a top-six finish.
The season does not hinge on two derby games. Jones is looking to take his side to the play off after several near misses and if he achieves that without doing well in the derby games then so be it.
"The bigger picture is not about two games and I'm sure if you said to fans at the start of the season that you'd lose the two derbies, but finish where you'd like to you'd take it," said Jones. "And you'd be crazy if you didn't. There's more to the game because of the pride, but it is about the points and the bigger picture.
"We're both trying to get out of this division and that adds a little bit of spice because we're both in the play-off spots and we both want to stay there."
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"We have made history many times this season and we can break more records on Saturday," said Sousa.
"As a manager it is one more game, but I cannot ignore this game has a different environment.
"I know about the past of this fixture - and it means I am in a very good position to make history because I have already won one game.
"We want the derby record but we also want the clean sheet record too - we can have the two on Saturday and that is what I am looking for.
"And we are confident we can look for the three points because my players are fresh. We have seen players return from injury and able to train more and that gives us the possibility to improve.
"I believe in my training because I believe it always gives you the opportunity to be stronger and reinforce the principles and quality of the side.
"We have had better preparation and for that I predict a very bright end to the season. We will get back to our best."
In fairness to Paulo he's helped fuel the derby day fire by dismissing Cardiff's injury worries and basically telling us to get on with it.
"Are they only going to play with seven players?" he continued. "It doesn't matter about what centre backs they may or may not have available because they will play with 11.
"You have to remember last month we had to make adjustments because of injuries, keep playing players who were injured in difficult circumstances - but that is life.
"I don't care if they are weakened. We will look to weaken them not because they have two or three players out of the first XI, our performance should give them problems so the critics cans say Swansea made them look poor."
Sousa finished with a final dig at City and their collapse at the end of last season.
"I don't worry about them - and I said they are the ones that should be worried because they have fallen away before. They go into the end of the season under more pressure than us.
"They have their own situation - but I will not lose any sleep thinking about them. My club is my only concern.
"I said when I joined we needed only to build strong foundations for the future this season.
"And we have done that, enough to look to the future with a lot of happiness.
"Our achievement this year is already impressive. But we will keep working because we have the opportunity to make it better."
Hopefully on Saturday evening it'll be the Scouser and not Sousa with the last laugh.
