Swansea's best Premier League season led many observers to suggest in May that they had finally reached their ceiling.
The club that had spent the last decade climbing through the divisions before establishing themselves alongside the big boys of English football had finished in eighth place with a record 56 points - and even manager Garry Monk conceded ``what we're doing is probably the most we can achieve right now.''
Monk said the club had to grow off the pitch to continue to progress on it but the feelgood factor has rolled on at the Liberty Stadium to such an extent this summer that Swansea are looking upwards for a tilt at European football.
The youngest manager in the Premier League has signed a new three-year deal to build on his excellent first full season in charge and wasted no time this summer adding to a squad which made light of the £28million sale of star striker Wilfried Bony last January.
Ghana forward Andre Ayew has arrived from Marseille despite being linked with bigger and wealthier clubs, so too Portugal striker Eder, former France Under-21 defender Franck Tabanou and Sweden's Kristoffer Nordfeldt who will provide competition in the goalkeeping department for Lukasz Fabianski.
Just as importantly Swansea have kept their squad intact this summer and tied down the likes of Neil Taylor and Jonjo Shelvey to long-term deals.
``You always dream and want more,'' Monk said.
``Taking the next step could be the hardest but this season is probably one of the biggest in the club's history.
``If you look at the rewards with all the TV rights and the money the club can gain from the following season, then it's massive.''
Swansea were only one place shy of qualifying for Europe last term as seventh-placed Southampton took the final Europa League spot.
The competition is often viewed as something of a poisoned chalice but Monk insists that is where Swansea should be setting their sights.
``I want to experience that and manage in Europe,'' Monk said.
``I got a taste over the two legs against Napoli (when he succeeded Michael Laudrup in 2014) and it was fantastic.
``I would like to taste it again with my own team and put my own stamp on it.
``This club is ambitious, which I like, and I want to try and grow here, pushing the squad forward.''