Swansea City boss Carlos Carvalhal believes that more performances like the second half one at Manchester United will be enough to ensure the club’s Premier League status for next season.
Mourinho’s side did the damage within the first 20 minutes at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Lukaku and Sanchez netting early, leaving the Swans will too much to chase in the second half.
Jose praised his fellow countryman for being bold with his subs at the start of the second half, bringing off Ki and Dyer for Carroll and Abraham who both helped to create some chances during the second period, and not make the game so one-sided.
Of course, Carvalhal said that he wasn’t happy with the result, but he’s a man who likes to take out the positives from games despite the defeat, and this weekend was no different.
Carvalhal said:
‘I am not happy with the result but really happy with the second half. We did very well and played as we wanted to play since the beginning. Sometimes that is not possible, but we moved the ball without any kind of fear and we controlled the game better with the ball, it’s not easy to play Manchester United here, but we must keep the moment with the way we played in the second half.’
Looking back, it’s a shame that the Swans left it too late to deliver a performance. Maybe if they had performed like they did in the second for the entire game they might have just got something out of it.
Carvalhal also spoke about the two big chances in that second half that both fell to Abraham, who forced de Gea into some great saves in quick succession despite having a quiet afternoon for the most part.
‘In football there are moments that are very important and if we achieve one goal in those two or three situations where De Gea made two fantastic saves we come back to the game and at 2-1 you never know,’ he said. ‘I believe that Manchester United would have been nervous about the score.
Both Carroll and Abraham have been out of form in recent months but both came on and made a difference, as well as proving to the gaffer that they can offer something and compete for a first-team place.
