Monk Reacts To Opening Day Draw at Champions Chelsea

Swansea City manager Garry Monk hailed the effort from his side after a hugely impressive 2-2 draw away at Champions Chelsea.

It was one of Swansea’s best performances under Garry Monk. They may well have done the double over Manchester United and Arsenal last season, but this was a match they could well have won.

Chelsea only managed to score thanks to a huge stroke of luck. Oscar’s free kick from a wide left position went straight in, when Gomis should have easily headed it clear, while Willian’s cross saw a wicked deflection off Fernandez to fly over Fabianski and into the net.

Other than that, Mourinho’s champions struggled in front of goal, against what was a very solid and confident Swansea City defence. Hazard’s strike from an acute angle that struck Fabianski hard in the face was their only memorable chance from the game, as surprisingly Swansea’s Polish goalkeeper had very little to do.

Swansea, meanwhile, managed to get 10 shots on target, with another 8 failing to force a save from Cortois or Begovic.

Impressive stats to say the least, when usually the Swans have gone to places like Chelsea – as well as Arsenal – looking to sit deep, defend, soak up the pressure and counter attack when possible.

Today was nothing like that though. They took the game to Chelsea, with confidence and self belief, creating more chances than the hosts – and wasting a few that could possibly have turned 1 point into 3.

Monk told the Official Site that he now hopes that this result gives the players confidence going into the next game, insisting they must replicate that level of performance:

“I thought for 90 minutes we were excellent,”

“We set the team up to be offensive. There were periods where we had to defend well, but the best chances fell to us and we got the result we deserved.

“The message was to show what we can do on the front foot at a place like this. The football we played at times was excellent and we created many chances.

“In our first game – at the home of the champions – we got on the front foot and reacted well to going behind.

“It`s about the entire team today. All the players ran themselves into the ground, and it was a mammoth effort.

“But it`s just one game. We need to take this into the rest of the season.

“We suffered in the two games we played against Chelsea last season, so hopefully it gives the players confidence.”