Swansea V Chelsea at Liberty Stadium : Match Preview

10 September 2016 16:34
Swansea V Chelsea - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Francesco Guidolin: I need to improve if Swansea are to improve

Francesco Guidolin admits he has to improve his own performance as Swansea attempt to find the winning formula against Chelsea.

Swansea have lost their last two Premier League games, at home to Hull and away to Leicester, after securing an opening-day win at Burnley.

And the visit of high-flying Chelsea on Sunday marks the start of a daunting run which also takes in Southampton, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal before the middle of October.

"I think we have a good team," said Swansea manager Guidolin. "I am happy and now it is important to see the future with optimism.

"It is time to do well on the pitch because my disappointment is for the last game against Leicester because we prepared another game.

"We were prepared against a good side with a lot of energy, but for 30 minutes we suffered a lot and there is nothing more to say.

"We have to improve, we have to play more aggressively.

"We have to change this attitude because the Premier League is very hard, but with these players I am confident.

"And it's my responsibility when the team does not play well. I have to do better."

Guidolin even hinted at a change of formation from the 4-3-3 system he has employed this season.

Spanish striker Borja Baston could make the bench following the thigh injury which has prevented him playing any part since his record B#15.5million move from Atletico Madrid.

Swansea fans could also get a glimpse of new B#5million centre-back Alfie Mawson, who joined the club just before the transfer deadline.

Mawson came through the same Barnsley set-up as England's Manchester City centre-back John Stones and Everton defender Mason Holgate, and Guidolin says the 22-year-old is ready for the rigours of the Premier League.

"It is too early to say if Alfie is a future leader, but he is a young player with good personality," said Guidolin.

"In training he is like other players, he is equal. He looks like he has been here a long time.

"Physically he is ready. He has good feet, is tall, and I like him.

"I think he will be a surprise for our fans, and I hope he has the same future as him (Stones)."

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte used the example of his famed defence at Juventus to illustrate how David Luiz can become one of the best centre-backs in the world.

Conte insists Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini - who also line up together for Italy - were ordinary players when he arrived in Turin in 2011.

Luiz is prone to losing concentration and taking some unnecessary risks, but Conte intends to iron out his shortcomings through hard work.

"It's important to remember when I started at Juventus, with Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli, the defence of Juventus had been conceding a lot of goals," Serie A title-winning former Juventus boss Conte said.

"I remember that, before my arrival, many people told me: 'These defenders are no good.'

"But when I started to work with them, I found a great commitment and attitude.

"Then, through the work, I think that now we are talking about three of the best defenders in the world in Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli.

"But remember, when we started in that first year at Juventus, it wasn't like that.

"David Luiz is 29 - a fantastic age for him to become one of the best defenders in the world.

Luiz will begin his second spell for Chelsea if selected against Swansea on Sunday after completing a B#34million move from Paris St Germain on transfer deadline day in the most unexpected move of the summer.

Conte believe his personality will benefit the squad.

"David is a positive guy. You see him and he always has a smile on his face, and that's good. He faces life the right way. That's important. Then, when we start to work, we work," he said.

Left back Marcos Alonso also comes into contention after joining from Fiorentina, but defender Kurt Zouma remains sidelined with a knee problem.


Source: PAR