Swansea’s approach no surprise to Carvalhal
CARLOS Carvalhal has shed some light on why Swansea City made a move for him just days after being shown the door at Sheffield Wednesday, admitting he first spoke to the club two years before eventually arriving at the Liberty.
Tomorrow’s FA Cup fifth round clash sees Carvalhal return to Hillsborough for the first time since a mutual agreement to end his 30-month spells as Owls boss with the Yorkshire club in the bottom-half of the Championship.
Having been lauded for his impact since replacing Paul Clement, it has surprised some to see the Portuguese impressing as much as it shocked a section of football that Swansea made the move for a manager experiencing difficulties in the second-tier.
But now Carvalhal has confirmed he had been on Swansea’s managerial wish-list for some time and that “it was not a big surprise” when he was contacted by the club.
The 52-year-old former Besiktas boss is thought to have been eyed by Swansea after they sacked Garry Monk in 2015, and again ahead of handing Francesco Guidolin a new deal in May 2016.
And he said: “We spoke. I talked to the chairman at that time.
“I think he liked our talk and my ideas but there was not an opportunity at that time to come. I had the feeling, and I think chairman had the same one, that we could work together in the future.
“As I understand they followed me for a long time. The style of the play and the way that we managed the club, they way that we talked with the press I know that they were analysing a lot of things.
“I know that because they told me. To me, it was not a big surprise when I received an invitation.”
Carvalhal’s Premier League priorities:
CARLOS Carvalhal is sticking to his Premier League priorities and will refuse to take risks on an emotional Hillsborough homecoming – despite having the chance to lead Swansea City to their first FA Cup quarter-final in 54 years.
The Swans take on Championship side Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow, in only their 14th appearance in the fifth round of the historic competition. Only three times before – 1926, 1927 and 1964 – have the Swans progressed to the last eight.
Yet, despite admitting he would love to taste the glory of lifting the cup at Wembley, Carvalhal is again set to rest senior men as he has done in previous rounds against Wolves and Notts County.
Because, after reiterating his main focus has to be on Premier League survival even as he returns to the club he spent two-and-a-half years at, he says he couldn’t forgive himself if a full-strength gamble backfired.
Carvalhal has made numerous changes for the last two rounds – and their replays – which has brought the advantage of being able to give a squad he is still getting to know greater game time.
And he has insisted he will do so again, adding: “Ask me to stay in the Premier League or win the FA Cup, I say Premier League because it is more important to the club. As a manager it would be nice to hold the cup, but I will not be selfish, it is more important to stay in the Premier League. This is our main competition, but we will try to do our best in the FA Cup also.
“We respect Sheffield Wednesday and we respect the cup, but our main priority is to stay in the Premier League, so we won’t take any risks. We believe we can put out a strong side, but there will be changes and I will protect some players. But the players will be the ones to best to win, but just if there are little problems that could be an injury, we will protect them.
“I understand that we have time between games, but I must protect players in one game that is not our priority. We will not take risks, it is exactly what we have done and we will do the same. I trust all the players and we can be confident. Let’s try to achieve a balance between all of the things, respecting Sheffield Wednesday and respecting the FA Cup. But we will not take risks.
“Nobody has said to me that if we put the players OUT that are risks that we will win or lose. If we lose two or three players my conscience won’t be at 100%.
“I think the best way is to do exactly what we are doing which is to protect the players that we think must be protected and don’t take risks. But, at the same time, we trust the players that we have picked to take us to the next stage of the FA Cup.
“If we go through to the next round or not it won’t play on my conscience because we will have protected players that are injured and also we will have done our best to get to the next stage. Managers must make the best decisions.”
Carvalhal – who will already be without cup-tied deadline-day signings Andre Ayew and Andy King – says he has confidence in the players selected, a confidence that – albeit against League Two opposition in their fourth-round replay – was justified when Swansea racked up a record score in their 8-1 win over Notts County.
“I don’t think that we will be weak. I think that the team that we play and the dynamic of our side will be very similar to the last few games,” he insisted, shying away from naming which players might be in need of – in his words – protecting, and also adding that the depth in certain positions will not affect judgement.
“We will move players, but we will still be a strong side. We have players who don’t play, but it doesn’t mean they are not good players it means it is about opportunities. If players start performing and play well people look with different eyes. With a competitive squad – which I believe we have – there is not much difference in ability. I believe they will do well. We can achieve a good dynamic.
“We are playing this competition like outsiders, we are playing underdogs, not because we are worse than our opponents, but because we are out of our main competition which is the Premier League, where our focus and priority is.
“I hope to reach the next round or go to Wembley – I was there with Sheffield Wednesday and I loved it. In my career and my plans I wish to get there again, I don’t know if this season, but again the Premier League is our priority, absolutely sure. In the cup, if we win, it will be good, fantastic – but if we do not get to next stage then it is OK.”
As well as Ayew and King, Carvalhal will be without Renato Sanches, although says he hopes the on-loan midfielder can be back by next month after his hamstring problems. Wilfried Bony is out until next season after undergoing a successful knee ligament operation, though Angel Rangel could be back before the end of the campaign after positive reactions to his recent groin surgery.
Connor Roberts is likely to come back in after the academy graduate impressed following his promotion