YOU’RE STILL THE SWAN FOR ME

Carvalhal backs Sanches to prove his detractors wrong and keep City up

RENATO SANCHES is being tipped to inspire Swansea to safety in the Premier League by new boss Carlos Carvalhal.

The midfield starlet lit up Euro 2016 as Portugal won the trophy and earned him a £60million move to Bayern Munich from Benfica.

But Sanches, just 20 in August, has been hugely disappointing in Wales as ex-Swans manager Paul Clement, who worked with the player in Germany, was axed last month.

Carvalhal, a fellow Portuguese, said: “Renato did very well in Benfica and in Portugal’s national team, but he needs to improve things and must learn.

“He is not a player who knows everything about football. He is in the process of becoming a better player. But we gave him a clear role in the last game (against Watford) and in this game (against Tottenham) also.

“First game, he didn’t start so well but, in the second half, he played at a better level and, I think, after just three days, he jumped to another level.

“I am sure he will play at a better level in the future because Swansea have got a very good player. But he is a boy, who is still learning, and not a ready-made player who you can put on the team and say, ‘Play and do your thing’.

“Because, if you do that, it will be difficult to win. My feeling is he needs a role and confidence, and I believe that he will have a very good second half of the season.”

Sanches achieved notoriety after an unintentional pass to an advertising board during the defeat at Chelsea.

But former Sheffield Wednesday chief Carvalhal believes he can get his compatriot to fulfil his potential and help haul bottom-club Swans to safety.

He has given Sanches a clear midfield role in his two games in charge so far, and feels his best form is now close, but is not giving him preferential treatment.

He added: “I talk with him in English most of the time, like I talk with the other players.

“I don’t make any difference with him. What I said to him, I try to say to the other players too. I want to give confidence to them, to get them to believe in themselves.

“I also want to put them in a clear role, when they have the ball and when they don’t have the ball, and also when they lose the ball.

“What we have planned so far I think the players have done very well, and Renato is doing very well, too.”