Clement’s still the right man for Swans job, declares Terry
JOHN Terry has urged Swansea City to keep faith with Paul Clement after revealing his former Chelsea coach very nearly convinced him to move to the Liberty Stadium.
Former Blues and England defender Terry - now at Championship side Aston Villa - was among the Sky Sports panel for the Swans 3-1 defeat at Everton on Monday night.
The 37-year-old worked with Clement during their times at Stamford Bridge, and continues to hold Carlo Ancelotti’s former assistant in high regard.
Clement had sought to bring Terry to SA1 when his Chelsea contract ran out in the summer.
Terry did not want to continue to play in the Premier League, as he wanted to avoid having to play against Chelsea, but admits 45-yearold Clement had come very close to persuading him to remain in the topflight.
And Terry has no doubt the head coach remains the right man to lead Swansea, despite the club being rock bottom in the Premier League table.
“(Clement is a) great man manager, someone I spoke to personally over the summer, just a great manger and a really good guy as well,” Terry told Sky Sports.
“He needs a bit of time, he needs the transfer window to get a few more players in, he’s the right man for the job for sure.
“I didn’t want to play in the Premier League, that was a big thing for me.
“I didn’t want to play against Chelsea, but (I gave) Clem the service because I felt I owed that to him, what he had done for me and how he helped me growing up.
“We met and, having not wanted to play against Chelsea, I have to say he pushed me really close, because the way he dealt with me and the process was excellent. But in the end I couldn’t do it.”
While Terry’s vast experience undoubted quality, even in the twilight of his impressive career, would have doubtless proved a boon for the Swans in the defensive third, scoring goals remains a key problem as Clement’s men lurch towards the Christmas period.
The fact that one man previously worshipped by the Swans faithful who really does know the route to goal, Gylfi Sigurdsson, was on target during defeat against Everton, will have cut fans to the quick.
Sigurdsson has revealed why he chose not to celebrate his stunning strike for Everton against former club Swansea City.
The Iceland international struck the decisive blow, with score locked at 1-1 with 64 minutes on the clock. Sigurdsson produced a moment of quality Swansea City fans had so enjoyed seeing from him in a white shirt.
Cutting inside from the left Sigurdsson got away a curling strike from the edge of the area that left Lukasz Fabianski with absolutely no chance.
It was a punch to the solar plexus Swansea never recovered from as they fell to a 12th Premier League defeat of the season, which ensures they will be in the bottom three at Christmas. Sigurdsson raised his arms as the ball struck the net, but quickly quelled the celebrations as he was engulfed by his team-mates.
“Over the last few weeks we have been picking up a few results, and so it was nice for us to keep that going here, although it was not easy,” he said.
“(Not celebrating) the goal was out of respect for the fans.
“Even though they gave me a bit of stick, I was never going to celebrate if I scored.
“I spent a lot of time with Swansea City and it will always be a club that means a lot to me, and it still does.
“So it was out of respect for them as a club.”
Sigurdsson was a key figure in Swansea escaping the drop under Clement last season, and their lack of creativity without him has been a factor in them experiencing another season in the lower reaches of the table.
But the £45million man believes they can survive again, pointing to how Everton have rapidly turned things around under Sam Allardyce.
“It is sad to see them where they are, I think it is a pretty similar situation to the one last season,” said Sigurdsson.
“They have good players there and I said to the lads it is just about getting a result or two and having the confidence coming back.
“I am sure (they can get out of trouble), I have no doubt.
“We were 18th a few weeks ago