CLEMENT: THANKS A LOTTI,
Uncertainty is the watchword with doubts over whether the club will be sold and if boss Marco Silva stays. Will the six loanees who had a big influence go back to their parent clubs? Transplant needed, one that allows the team to transfer their invincible home form to Wembley. Don’t be surprised if Moussa Sissoko and Kevin Wimmer leave – as will Kyle Walker. MARCO SILVA has urged Hull to learn from the failings of this season and bounce back to the Premier League as soon as possible.
The relegated Tigers, whose immediate return to the Championship was confirmed by last Sunday’s defeat at Crystal Palace, conclude the campaign at home to second-placed Tottenham today.
Silva gave City hope of survival with some impressive results after replacing Mike Phelan in January, but was ultimately unable to prevent them slipping out of the top flight for the second time in three seasons.
“The disappointment and frustration is still felt because we didn’t achieve our goal of staying up,” said Silva (above).
“But it’s important to understand why these things happen and don’t make the same mistakes again.
“The club need to do everything that is possible to come again quickly to the Premier League. The fantastic supporters deserve that, the players deserve it as well.”
Silva, whose own future is uncertain as he comes to the end of a short-term contract, has picked up 21 points from his 17 league games in charge – and has challenged his players to end on a high.
“It’s been a hard week for us but we will try to finish well against a team who have had a fantastic season,” he said. PAUL CLEMENT will maintain his hotline to Carlo Ancelotti next season as he plots Swansea’s next chapter.
The Swans’ head coach has already defied the naysayers who claimed he was mad to leave Bayern Munich, where he was No.2 to Ancelotti.
Already safe, Clement can take Swansea over the 40-point mark by beating West Brom today, but the calls to Germany will continue.
Clement (top) said: “I had a message from Carlo after last weekend, saying congratulations on a job well done.
“Xabi Alonso also sent me a nice message, which was good as he plays his last game of football this weekend, along with Philipp Lahm.
“Carlo is not only a very good friend of mine, he is also a great mentor. We are in regular contact and I don’t see that being any different in the years to come.”
Clement’s rescue job after taking over a club that had mustered only 12 points, has been one of the success stories of the Premier League season.
But the former Derby boss knows he must strengthen his squad this summer – even though he admits taking advice from Ancelotti (above) is much easier than taking his players. “You always try to do that,” he said. “I have contacts at all the clubs where I’ve worked – Chelsea, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich – and they are really good people.
“But it is not as easy as it sounds when you try to attract really good players from that level to a club like ours.
“The best chance would be a loan, or a young player, but maybe that isn’t the right answer.
“That is the key for me – getting the right player. All the players who came here in January are Swansea players. They are all good on the ball and they fit in with the identity of the club.
“We have to recruit the right kind of players in terms of ability, but also in terms of character.
“We have to build team spirit – not disrupt it.”