Clement instantly lifts Swans
New Swansea City boss Paul Clement began Tuesday’s relegation battle at Crystal Palace as a spectator in the stands, but ended the encounter barking out pitchside instructions and celebrating a crucial victory.
The former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid assistant coach had only been appointed a few hours before the match at Selhurst Park and temporary manager Alan Curtis was officially in charge.
Clement, however, left his seat to deliver a halftime team talk and saw plenty to encourage him as the Swans fought back from conceding a late leveller to snatch a 2-1 victory thanks to substitute Angel Rangel’s winner.
“The new manager coming in is a huge part of it, it gives people a real lift,” Curtis said.
“Paul came down and made a real positive contribution.
“He came into the dressing room before the game and in at halftime and at the end and played a part in the substitutes.
“There’s nothing better for any player than a new manager in the stands looking at you.”
Swansea went to Palace bottom of the table and on the back of a four-match losing streak. It had the joint worst defensive record in the Premier League, which ultimately resulted in the end of American Bob Bradley’s tenure last week.
Alfie Mawson’s header moments before the break gave Swansea the lead but Palace dominated the second half before Wilfried Zaha’s acrobatic volley in the 83rd minute drew the south Londoners level.
Rangel was brought on after consultation between Curtis and Clement and he found the net in the 88th minute to lift the Welsh club off the foot of the standings above Hull.
“Paul has come into the club because he feels we can get out of trouble,” said Curtis.
“He had a fantastic job at Bayern Munich working with some of the best players in the world, but he wanted the challenge of coming to us. I said to him that if I were him I’d have stayed where he was.
“I think people who have only seen our results would have been surprised by the way we played tonight, especially in the first half when we were really good.
“And I think Paul would probably have been surprised himself at how well we played.”