Vitor Matos says winger Ronald handled his shift at right-back against West Ham “as good as we all thought he could”, and that he would use him there again.
The Brazilian started in defence in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Filip Lissah was suspended and Josh Key is still injured, leaving Matos without a senior right-back.
Before the game, he had kept his plan for the position “a surprise”.
Ronald preparing for right-back since Josh Key’s injury
Matos said the plan went back to when Key was injured. “It came from a situation of having Key and Fil not being able to play,” he said.
“When Josh got injured, it was something that we already started preparing because we knew that Fil had three yellows, so that could happen before Josh came back.”
Lissah picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the midweek win at Millwall, which brought a one-match ban.
“So, we started preparing Ronnie for that at that time.”
‘A quite consistent game’ against Manor Solomon
“I think he had a quite consistent game, a quite good game, even in moments from offensive-wise, coming from the back with the energy to push the team forward,” Matos said.
“I think he took the role as good as we all thought he could, so I’m really proud of him. He helped us a lot.”
Matos said it was a hard first test, up against West Ham’s Manor Solomon. “It was not an easy game for that as well against Solomon, who is probably one of the best dribblers of the league,” he said.
“With the overload over that side, with Mukasa arriving here and him moving inside. So a lot of movement in front of him.”
“I think he handled that really well and that gives us the comfort that if we decide to use him, for sure he will perform again.”
Ronald twice close to an equaliser
Ronald also went close at the other end. His fizzing 25-yard drive flew just over the bar in the first half.
Late on, he had the Swans’ best chance to level, but nodded back across the six-yard box at the far post instead of heading for goal.
Four days after his Millwall winner
It came four days after he came off the bench to score the 90th-minute winner at Millwall, the club he nearly joined on deadline day.
Lissah’s one-match ban has now been served before the trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, 24 October (3pm).
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
SWANS: Mukasa ends Swansea’s unbeaten home run as West Ham win top-of-the-table clash
The match report.
SWANS: Lissah ban leaves Matos without a senior right-back for West Ham showdown
The right-back problem.
SWANS: Ronald punishes the club he nearly joined as late winner keeps Swansea top at Millwall
Ronald’s winner at the Den.
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