Clement ‘Very Happy’ With Progress After 4-0 Win

Swansea City head coach Paul Clement said he is ‘very happy’ with how things are developing after his side beat Sampdoria 4-0 in today’s final pre-season friendly.

After the U.S Tour that they ended with a disappointing goalless draw, Clement felt that his squad was behind his own targets, but he was in a much more upbeat mood today having watched them bang in the goals at the Liberty Stadium.

Read our match report and player ratings of the game here

Clement said:

“I am really happy with the way things have gone in pre-season,”

“We have worked hard and we have improved after making a slow start, which can happen.

“We got a lot of work in while we were in America without really playing at our best.

“We then did some good things last week against Birmingham and today we played a really good side who were only narrowly beaten by Manchester United the other night.

“I know they made a lot of changes today, and perhaps the second goal was the sort of gift you don`t normally expect.

“But we were dangerous on the counter-attack in the first half, we scored from two set-plays and we got a little bit more control of the game in the second half.

“There are still a couple of things to work on, but I am confident that by next Saturday, we will be ready.”

Clement said that there were still a few things to work on ahead of next Saturday’s season opener:

“That`s pre-season done. We have tried to work on things we felt we needed to improve and there will be things from this game that I think we need to address before Southampton,”

“We will also have an in-depth look at Southampton, and then we will be ready to go next Saturday at 3pm. It`s exciting for us.”

Clement was yet again questioned about Gylfi Sigurdsson, but Clement preferred to focus on the players who want to play for the club and said there was no further update on the situation:

“I know that`s a big talking point, but I am focused on the players who are committed to being here, who want to work and want to improve and I am happy with their performance today.

“On the subject you`re asking about, there is no further update.”