New boss feels he’s up to it

CARLOS Carvalhal believes he is cut out to save Swansea’s top-flight status after his surprise appointment as the newest manager i n the Premier League.

Carvalhal’s two-and-ahalf-year stint at Sheffield Wednesday only came to an end on Christmas Eve, with the Owls 15th in the Sky Bet Championship and struggling to reach the play-offs for the third successive season.

However, although he has never previously managed in the Premier League, the 52-year-old Por tuguese feels his management career provides the perfect CV for S w a n s e a ’s d e s p e r a t e battle against relegation.

“All through my career I have never had easy jobs,” Carvalhal said after being named as Paul Clement’s successor.

“Even when I trained Sporting t hey were i n ninth place when I arrived and they are one of the massive clubs in Portugal who fight for the title.

“At Besiktas there were big problems as the vicepresident and one of the coaches was in jail.

“It was a very hard moment when the chairman moved to the Turkish Federation and we went four months with no salary. However, we did well and the Besiktas fans appreciated our work.”

Carvalhal began his coaching career i n his native Portugal in 1998 and Swansea is his 17th different job.

“Sheffield Wednesday did not achieve much in the 20 years before but we moved things very fast,” Carvalhal said. “We played good football, achieved Wembley and got to another play-off.”

Carlos Carvalhal