Swansea City's transformation under Russell Martin has been drastic to say the least.
From the very opening day of the campaign at Blackburn Rovers, the team's change in style was evident as new bold methods ensured the pulses of the travelling contingent at Ewood Park were racing from the word go. Players including Kyle Naughton, Matt Grimes and Flynn Downes have been perfectly suited to Martin's demands, although, for others, the campaign has been far more of a learning curve.
Ben Cabango has served as a prime example of a player taking time to adapt the club's radical on-field shift, and also of one who has grafted relentlessly to ensure he can deliver what has and continues to be asked of him.
"You have got to remember we didn’t have a pre-season here [under Martin]. He came in two or three days before the first game," said Cabango. "I am sure if you all watched the Blackburn game, you wouldn’t think we’d be in the situation we are in now because it wasn’t the best.
“But as the season has gone on we have kept getting better and better. Next season could be very exciting if we keep working hard. It’s been a long, hard season and I think we have all learned a lot through it. Now it’s starting to show in games and we just need to keep building on that.”
The defender started just half of Swansea's first 20 Championship matches under the current coaching staff but has played from the outset in each of his side's last 21 league games. It means he has already made more Championship appearances this season than he did last term, even when you include his trio of outings in the 2020/21 play-offs.
His upturn in form has come as a result of a major shift on the training ground, thanks largely to input from boss Martin, technical development coach Matt Gill and former assistant boss Luke Williams. And Cabango is candid when discussing his personal development.
"I think I've just got more and more confident as the season has gone on," he explained. "Definitely in possession is a thing I've improved. Going into this season it's something I really did want to improve. Just little bits of intensity the gaffer always gets on to me about. He knows when I'm intense I'm at my best.
"I just need to keep them short movements and always want the ball. When I'm confident I want the ball and I've played the right passes. Sometimes when I play within myself I do those stupid mistakes of trying to force stuff, but when I'm confident I'm more assured and I know what I'm doing."
Cabango's personal numbers typify the shift at the club. Under Martin, he boasts a pass success rate of 86% compared to 71.6% last term in the Championship. The Welshman now wins an average of 2.2 aerial duels per game compared to 4.7 per game in the league last season which fully highlights the emphasis placed on work in possession.
“Everything is around the ball. I think where we have improved also is off the ball," added the academy product. “Everyone talks about our expansive football, but you have got to remember we are up there in clean sheets as well.
“I know we have conceded a lot of goals but the clean sheets show the mentality off the ball has improved massively as well. He [Martin] has helped me massively, honestly. On and off the pitch, everything, I think he has helped so much."
Cabango's highlight of the campaign was undoubtedly scoring one of his side's four goals in their drubbing of rivals Cardiff - his city of birth - earlier this month. Not just merely scoring, either. The 21-year-old unleashed a pile-driver beyond Alex Smithies to put his side in command at Cardiff City Stadium while sending the travelling supporters into raptures in the process. But the familiar faces wearing blue were not so impressed.
"It was crazy to be fair," beamed the centre-back when reliving the memories of a historic derby triumph. "Probably one of the best moments so far, scoring against them. With all of my mates in the Cardiff stand as well, it made it even better. They weren't too happy. They're over it now though.
"I don't really know where it came from. That's probably my best goal! Thinking back to that moment now, it gives me goosebumps. When I saw it go into the back of the net, I was so happy. I want more moments like that.
"To do the double is special. I find it crazy how it's been 110 years and no-one's ever done the double. To do it 3-0 and 4-0 is testament to how well we're playing at the moment."
Swansea's already faint play-off hopes took a severe blow at the weekend as they could only manage a 1-1 draw with Barnsley. It means Cabango's season at domestic level will almost certainly come to an end against Queens Park Rangers on May 7.
However, the defender is set to link-up with his Wales team-mates at the end of May for a training camp ahead of his country's packed June schedule. Rob Page's men play four Nations League fixtures while also hosting either Scotland or Ukraine in the World Cup play-off final on June 5. The full fixture dates are available here.
Cabango did not feature in Wales' semi-final triumph over Austria, although the pre-match atmosphere ramped up his excitement levels for the June showdown in Cardiff.
"It's crazy. It's stuff you dream of as a kid," he said of Wales' World Cup hopes. "Going into the [Austria] game I didn't actually get the feeling for how big it was, but as soon as we sung the anthem, the stadium was just bouncing. It really makes you think how big this is for the country.
"When you've got someone like Gareth Bale in your team, anything is possible. He showed his quality. We've got one more game now and I'm really confident that, as a team, we can do it. I've really just got to concentrate on playing well at Swansea to make sure I get into the squad to play in games like that."
Bale further cemented his place in Welsh football folklore with his brace against Austria, the first of which was a sublime free-kick that left goalkeeper Heinz Lindner stranded. Having trained with the Real Madrid star on numerous occasions, Cabango is only too aware of Bale's freakish talents.
"It's like he doesn't even try," said the Swansea man. "The stuff he does is crazy. He'll do the slowest Cruyff turn, and he's sent you to the shop. It's quality like I've never seen. He's such a top player and a top guy."
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For the time being at least, Cabango's sole focus lies on ensuring Swansea finish the season strongly. Martin's men are unbeaten in six matches and have collected 14 of the last 18 points on offer.
Contract work is ongoing while the transfer window is set to be typically manic as Martin continues to mould his squad to ensure the Swans can challenge for a top six place next term.
"We are just looking to go into next season still building and hopefully finishing this one strongly," concluded Cabango. "You never know what’s going to happen in transfer windows – there are always moves you don’t expect. You can never really think too far ahead because you never know what’s going to happen but with a good pre-season and good signings we can really challenge."
