SWANS: ‘We should contemplate just for a little’ — Matos on the ugly bits and the long game

Swansea City sit top of the Championship, unbeaten, with one goal conceded in four games. Vitor Matos would like everyone to enjoy it briefly and then get back to work.

“I think back from where we were in December when I arrived, we are happy that we are giving that back to the fans, giving that back to everyone, but we should contemplate just for a little, because there’s so many more games to play,” the head coach said.

“There’s many more things we need to do to be better, many more things we need to do to be much more consistent, and to be able to compete in this league and to compete against every type of team.

“That’s what we need to focus on now. If we can maintain those standards over the season, it’s going to be a good season.”

What pleased him most about Tuesday’s win over Watford was not the football that got the crowd up.

“It was so positive. We were really good with a lot of things that we did with the ball,” he said.

“But I enjoyed some of the parts that not a lot of people speak of: the desire, the tackle, the pressing, the ugly bits of football that mean a lot and make us stronger.”

‘I’m still not able to control the world market’

Matos was asked about the two wingers who expected to leave on deadline day but did not. Ronald’s move to Millwall and Zeidane Inoussa’s loan to Portsmouth both collapsed.

“They will be back in training and are part of the team, unless something happens, if it happens. I’m still not able to control the world market,” he said.

Nor does he accept the suggestion that he now has too many wide players.

“I don’t see it in that way. We have a squad. Recruitment gives you players, then you need to build a squad,” Matos said.

“That’s what I like, that’s why I love my job, to work and make from the individuals you have a proper team, to build relationships, to build standards, to build togetherness.

“That’s what I did first when I arrived, and now I need to do the same with the players we have.”

Lissah and the schedule

Among those who have taken their chance is Filip Lissah, the academy product who has started the last three games and filled in at both right-back and centre-half.

“He has a lot of talent. He can play in different positions in the back four, and he’s consistent in all of them so far,” Matos said.

“Now it’s up to him as well to keep improving his game, to keep developing himself. It’s up to us to use him when we think it’s important, and how we think it’s important.”

There is another young player still finding his feet. Tom Iorpenda joined from Huddersfield Town last week as the ninth summer signing, having won promotion at Wembley last season.

“Tom is a really wonderful talent to work with, to develop. He has a lot of good attributes that he brings, he’s strong on physicality but still with a proper mix of technique,” Matos said.

“He did that really well last season. Now it’s up to him to adjust to the Championship, adjust to our team, and for us to keep developing him and try to use him in the best way as well.”

The rhythm of the season is about to change. Swansea have played once a week so far, but the Wrexham game begins a run of midweek and weekend fixtures.

“The beginning of the Championship was in one way calm, in terms of having a game per week, which allowed us to train, allowed us to keep developing, and that was really important for us,” he said.

“Now we play midweek and we play again on the weekend. That’s a different kind of challenge for all the players.

“I think that’s the hard part of the Championship. You need to play quite quick against different oppositions and you don’t really have time to think on the last one. You just need to prioritise what is important and then move on.”

For a head coach who took over in December with the club in a very different place, the message is that the work has barely started.

“In football everything is a moment. You need to raise the standards, work and focus on what you can do every day to be better,” Matos said.

“It seems cliche, but that’s the truth in the end. You always need to understand the moment you are in, against which kind of team you want to play, where you can be stronger than the opposition, and still build your identity and build what you want to be recognised for.”

Wrexham visit the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday evening.