Britton spirit shines through to help clinch Swansea safety
Swansea secured their Premier League survival with a victory on Wearside, but it was inspired by some brutally honest team meetings in South Wales that forged new spirit in a side that had become careless and complacent after six years in the top flight.
The Swans had lost their edge, as well as the band-of-brothers bond that had been the foundation for everything the club had achieved since arriving in the Premier League in 2011.
Paul Clement, a risky appointment in January, after his failure to get Derby promoted in his only other head coach role, has been the tactician, a vast improvement on his predecessor Bob Bradley.
He masterminded the escape, secured with a comfortable win over dismal Sunderland via goals from Fernando Llorente and Kyle Naughton, and should be lauded for it.
After a successfulccessful coaching career under Carloarlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, , Paris St-germain, Real Madrid and Bayern ayern Munich, he has proven his leadership ership skills.
But it has been een the players, ashamedmed by their failings s and alarmed by their r predicament, who dug g the tunnel that has taken en Swansea to safety.
Players like Leon Britton, who signed for Swansea back in 2002 and returned rned there after a solitary season at Sheffield United in 2011, steppedd up. After more than 490 games for the Swans, hav- ing played such a pivotal role in their rise through the leagues, club captain Britton instinctively knew what was needed.
He was not even in the team under Clement, but at the age of 34, rather than allow his frustration to spread poison, he tried to find an antidote. When Swansea looked doomed four games ago, Clement called on him again and after four months out of the side, Britton’s return has coincided with wins over Stoke, Everton and Sunderland as well as a draw against Manchester United.
Clement likened the midfielder’s role at Swansea to that of John Terry’s at Chelsea and it was Britton who came up with the proposal to pay for supporters’ tickets at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. He has been a beacon in the twilight of his career.
Asked to explain how Swansea managed to turn things around in such stunning fashion, so late in a season that had brought them three different managers, Britton said: “I just think maybe the spirit and determination has been there.
“We’ve just dealt with the pressure going into these last four games. There has been a complete togetherness. In those important moments, when we’ve been able to produce, we’ve done it.
“It’s been a difficult year for everyone at the club – the fans, the players, the staff – and it’s just nice to be going into the last game of the season knowing that we’re safe.
“We’ve ridden the wave over the last four games, the timing has been very important. Before that run, we went six games without a win. It is important there’s no doubt about that, picking up 10 points from 12 at this stage of the season, when the pressure is on and the points really matter, is of great credit to the team.”
Swansea will not want to be in this sort of trouble again. That is the challenge for Clement, but for now they can celebrate.
“The manager said the other day that staying up would be a cause for celebration and I think that’s true,” Britton added. “It’s been so tough. Three managers over one season is not the norm for most football clubs and on top of that we’ve been fighting relegation with all the pressure that goes with that.
“Maybe we shouldn’t celebrate because we’ve been fighting relegation and that means it hasn’t been a great season, but at the same time we have to recognise that the pressure is off and we can enjoy ourselves because at times it’s been horrible.”