Clement Focuses On Positives After Manchester United Defeat

Swansea City head coach Paul Clement decided to focus on the positives from Saturday`s game despite losing 4-0 at the hands of Jose Mourinho`s Manchester United.

Two consecutive 4-0 victories for United puts them top of the League, and they`re showing early signs that they`re finally title contenders once again.

The game played out in a similar fashion as to when we played Manchester City at the beginning of last season. We defended well in a good shape, limiting them to mostly half chances from distance, but as we tried to push to get back from a 1-0 deficit, the floodgates opened.

What was most disappointing was the goal we conceded and the timing of it – right on the stroke of half time.

Clement told the Official site that the difference between the sides “for a long time” was a “set play”, and it was that goal that later forced Clement to make the attacking changes that allowed United to score 3 goals in a devastating 6-minute spell.

We were competitive for long periods of the game – right up until the second goal,”

“The difference between the sides for a long time was a set-play. Although we had to defend more than they did, I thought our shape was good and we didn`t let them have any real clear-cut chances.

“We are disappointed about the way we defended the set-play. We have a really good record defending set-plays – we only conceded one after I came in last season – so to concede in that fashion was disappointing.

“But there were enough good things in the first half for me to say at half-time that we were still very much in the game and must not let our confidence get affected.

“That was the case right up until the second goal.

“Whereas last week at Southampton I was more disappointed with the performance than the result, today I am more disappointed with the result rather than some of the things we did.

“I think the supporters felt that way too. I think they were happy with some of the things they saw up until the second goal.”

Second goal was a gift

“I don`t want to be a coach who is happy losing 1-0, so I made some offensive changes,”

“But the second goal we gave them was a gift. We missed a couple of tackles in midfield and then we were out of position at the back and they punished us.

“The third goal was a loose pass. They are so strong on the counter and they showed it again.

“The first goal is always important in this league. Jose (Mourinho) has shown over the years that when his team go 1-0 up, they manage games so well.

“They know the other team will have to come out and in the end they punished us.”