CARLOS IS COOKING UP A STORM AS SWANS ARE ON THE UP
CARLOS Carvalhal served up some treats this week when he brought in traditional Portuguese tarts Pasteis de nata to the training ground. But it’s the way he’s cooking up a storm at the Liberty that really matters – because he’s making this survival bid look like a piece of cake.
It was hardly a showstopper of a game, but it was never likely to be against a Burnley side that, before today, boasted the third-best defence in the league, fighting and grinding their way to results.
But, even with by and large the same ingredients as Paul Clement before him, the positive Portuguese clearly has the recipe for success. When he arrived, Swansea were five points adrift and bottom of the Premier League table with 13 points from 20 games; they have now collected 14 points from Carvalhal’s seven matches in charge.
Furthermore, since his appointment on December 28, only Tottenham (15) have collected more points.
Throw in the fact Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool have been included in the run – and the fact there is now a chance of a first FA Cup quarter-final place in 54 years up at his former club next weekend – and it’s a trans- formation difficult to believe. Hail to the chef.
It was Ki Sung-yueng that provided the garnish here, scoring nine minutes from time with his first goal since May 2016, as Swansea finally found a way through a congested, compact Claret defence.
But it was no accident that the hosts found reward when you are prepared to be brave. Carvalhal called them “controlled risks” as he used a bench that shows Swansea also look transformed when it comes to options, even with Leory Fer, Wilfried Bony and Renato Sanches all unavailable.
There have been countless times – this season and last – in tight games where Swansea have looked to the dug-out for inspiration and found none.
Here, Carvalhal looked and saw record signing Andre Ayew and Tammy Abraham, acting upon his instinct to go and win the game.
After the lobsters, fishes and the cakes, he explained how veteran Portuguese coach Quinito used an expression about sometimes needing to “put all the meat on the barbecue”. In ending the game with Abraham and the Ayew brothers all in attack, with wing backs Kyle Naughton and Sam Clucas pushed high.
Burnley couldn’t contain it and it was Naughton – another who looks an individual improved under Carvalhal – who provided the spark with a teasing run before Ki provided the finish.
Of course, it is one thing just throwing attackers on, quite another to work out how to give them the
platform to succeed. If there is one thing that sums up the change in Swansea it is the speed of things; they are quicker in their passes, in their movement, in their thought.
There were plenty of sideways and backwards passes in a system including three central defenders – things that were seen as main grievances under Clement.
But it was never the set-up or being patient with possession that caused this side its problems, it was the pace and the purpose of it all.
The intensity grew in Swansea after an awkward, aggressive start to things that heralded few real chances but saw the hosts with the smarter play.
Burnley have made great strides and have played good football this year, but their recent winless run has seen them revert to type a touch and this was direct and niggling.
There’s little wrong with that, and it was pleasing then that Swansea stood up to it. No self-pity in the physical challenges here with one of the smallest men on the pitch – Nathan Dyer – leading by example. Bundled to the ground often by fair means or foul, he constantly dusted himself down and drove on with his dribbles.
The press was good and the confidence and momentum building and building on top of the far greater understanding of roles and overall responsibilities.
It is quite simply a different side, with quite simply a different situation in front of the club now.
Carvalhal talked about coming from the bottom of the ocean and now having their head above water, being able to see the coast.
Many predict 40 points – 13 points away at the moment – won’t be needed to survive this year. Four more wins is perhaps enough from Swansea from their 11 remaining fixtures.
Of course, it was a home win against Burnley last year that prompted plenty of similar premature celebrations only for Swansea to struggle until the final four games.
Carvalhal needs to maintain intensity and improvements in a series of key games against Brighton, West Ham, Huddersfield and Southampton after FA Cup involvement.
But he clearly knows how to get the mix just right judging by this latest step.
The proof of the pudding is always in the eating – but right now he’s got that all-important survival on the menu.