CLEMENT AGREES DEAL WITH SWANS
PAUL Clement has agreed to become Swansea City’s next manager on a two-and-a-half year deal.
The 44-year-old flew into London yesterday to put the finishing touches to his move to the Liberty, where he will become Swansea’s third manager of the season.
The former Derby boss had been working as Carlo Ancelotti’s number two at Bayern Munich, but the German club had earlier confirmed they had allowed him to open discussions with Swansea.
While Clement (pictured) is not thought to have put pen to paper yet, his appointment as manager is expected to be officially confirmed today ahead of Swansea’s trip to face Crystal Palace, where he will watch from the stands.
Bayern’s statement acknowledging Clement’s impending departure said: “Co-coach Paul Clement has asked FC Bayern Munich to hold talks with Premier League club Swansea City about a commitment as manager.
“Bayern’s manager Carlo Ancelotti and the Management Board of FC Bayern Munchen AG have fulfilled this wish.
“Paul Clement will therefore not be travelling to the training camp in Doha together with the team of FC Bayern.” Clement has worked alongside Ancelotti at the Allianz Arena since the summer, having also coached with the Italian at Chelsea, Real Madrid and PSG where he won numerous honours, including the Champions League. His sole experience as a manager in his own right came at Derby last season, where he was sacked with the Rams in the Championship play-off places. Clement will take over a Swansea side rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table on the back of four heavy defeats in succession, with the length of his contract clearly indicating he will get to oversee the rebuilding job if he is unable to help them retain top-flight status.
Caretaker boss Alan Curtis will remain in charge for tonight’s clash against Palace, with Clement looking on before assuming the reins in time for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round meeting with Hull City.
Wales boss Chris Coleman, Manchester United great Ryan Giggs and ex-Birmingham manager Gary Rowett had all been in the frame to succeed Bradley – who was sacked after just 85 days in charge – but it is set to be Clement, who takes on the huge challenge awaiting the new man in SA1.
SWANSEA City’s meeting with Crystal Palace is likely to be the last of Alan Curtis’s spell as caretaker boss, but it could yet go a long way to deciding whether new manager Paul Clement has any genuine prospect of keeping the club in the top flight.
Bayern Munich assistant Clement will watch from the stands at Selhurst Park with his appointment as Swansea’s third manager of the season expected to be confirmed ahead of kick-off.
It promises to be a very different challenge for the 44-year-old as he leaves a club targeting yet another Bundesliga title and Champions League glory for one struggling desperately at the foot of the Premier League table.
Some have questioned his sanity, but the very fact Clement is prepared to come on board suggests a hunger, positivity and ambition Swansea could certainly do with right now.
It is a huge job and one that, regardless of whether he keeps Swansea in the top flight or not, he should be given time in as Swansea have long-term issues to address and there is no quick fix.
Yet, despite a woeful first half of the season, Swansea somehow are not completely adrift. As it stands, they are just four points from safety and four points from Palace, who occupy that 17th-place spot.
However, defeat to the Eagles will leave Swansea some seven points behind their hosts and 16th-placed Middlesbrough, with a vastly-inferior goal difference.
True, mathematically Swansea will still be able to get out of trouble, but realistically a seven-point gap would have to be considered a bridge too far given what we have seen from the men in white so far this season.
In terms of mentality, the difference between a four-point gap and a seven-point gap will be huge.
So, any sort of result against Palace would be a major boost for Swansea and Clement, although you would be hard pushed to make a compelling case for an away win given the visitors have suffered humbling defeats in their last four fixtures.
Curtis, himself, has acknowledged a new voice and a fresh pair of eyes are needed for a squad bereft of confidence, but he will be all too aware of the need to somehow stem the bleeding and give the new manager something to build on.
“A new manager will lift the place, it needs a new face and fresh eyes to look at it, the window is open and we need the boost of a couple of players,” he said.
“It is a long way back, but we have to keep on going, this is another big game, a massive game we are in a league of four or five teams and we cannot be in the bottom three of that group.
“We are not totally adrift, but it will be very difficult between now and the end of the season, but we will keep going until mathematically we cannot do anything more.
“We have another massive game, we will train and prepare. We need to sort something quickly as possible, but we will do the best we can.
“It is going to be very difficult, but I still think there is enough there to get better results, but confidence is such a fragile thing. There are good players here.”
Swansea can at least take some confidence from the fact they beat Palace in that quite incredible game at the Liberty at the end of November.
A game Swansea had firm control of ended up 5-4 thanks to Fernando Llorente’s brace in stoppage time.
Lightning is highly unlikely to strike twice with regard to the final scoreline, but Swansea at least know Palace themselves are vulnerable, even with Sam Allardyce at the helm.
They have weaknesses there to be exploited, but only if Swansea can show some sort of ability to get a grip on their own flaws and find some solidarity in adversity.
“This is a massive game for us — all games are like a final now,” said winger Mo Barrow.
“With the position we are in, we need to show character and fighting spirit. We need to go to Palace and fight to get a result because it will be really difficult there.
“It does not matter how we play — we just need to get points because winning is all that matters right now.
“Winning games builds your confidence, and then you have the good feeling to play the way we are used to, so results and confidence are linked.
“Hopefully, we can go there and give our fans the result we are both looking for.”
And give Clement a sign of the fight and spirit he will need to foster in a squad who have appeared resigned to their fate in recent weeks.