SWANS STARS MUST DELIVER

Clement tells aces to do a Ronaldo Hughes all set to launch his Shaq attack

PAUL CLEMENT wants his Swansea stars to show the same self-belief as Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Swans boss has ordered Gylfi Sigurdsson, Federico Fernandez and Fernando Llorente to rise to the occasion and drag their team to safety. Clement’s men are in the relegation zone, two points from safety after a run of four defeats in five games. But he says his players have to truly believe in themselves if they are to survive. “At the 2014 Champions League Final against Atletico Madrid, I was ® ® behind Cristiano, lining up in the tunnel,” said the former Real Madrid assistant manager.

“I was looking at the trophy on the podium – it took my breath away.

‘‘Just then Cristiano looked over his shoulder and said, ‘Don’t worry, Paul’.

Dipped

“Now that is confidence and that is belief. I wasn’t even playing in the game, but that’s what the big players have – they relish it.”

Despite an initial turnaround in results after Clement’s appointment in January, Swansea’s form has dipped.

But Clement says it is now time for his experienced players to step up, starting at Watford today.

Sigurdsson played in the Iceland team that excelled at Euro 2016, Llorente is a World Cup winner with Spain and Fernandez starred for Argentina at the last World Cup.

“Some of our players have played at big clubs, Llorente is an example of that,” said Clement.

“Tottenham are a big club, some of our players have played for them.

“Llorente, Sigurdsson and Fernandez, they know what it’s like to play in big games.

“We also have young players who are new to this with very few Premier League games.

“What you hope from the experienced players, and they have been very good, is that they try to galvanise the dressing room and give their advice and experience to the younger ones and help them.”