'The big games are ahead'

24th April
First team

Kyle Bartley insists Swansea City only have eyes for the challenges ahead as they bid to secure Premier League survival.

Carlos Carvalhal’s men endured a miserable trip to Manchester City on Sunday as they were thumped 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

But Bartley is adamant the Swans, who face Chelsea at the Liberty next, will not be derailed despite suffering their heaviest defeat since Carvalhal took charge.

“The important games are still to come for us and we are focused on those now,” the central defender said.

“We can’t let defeat at Manchester City dent our confidence because we have been on a good run of form.

“We must move on and look ahead. We have four massive games coming up and three of those are at home. We refocus and go again.”

Chelsea are currently fifth in the Premier League and look likely to finish there at this stage given that they are five points adrift of fourth-placed Spurs and six clear of Arsenal, who are sixth, with four games remaining.

But Blues boss Antonio Conte has insisted his team will keep fighting for Champions League qualification until all hope is lost.

Last season’s title winners come to Wales this Saturday (5.30pm) to take on a Swans side whose home form has been impressive in recent months.

And Bartley is convinced Carvalhal’s team will not be affected by their mauling in Manchester.

“You never want to concede as many goals as we did up there or get beaten in the way we did,” he added.

“Manchester City were fantastic – they have shown all season that they are on a different level to every team in the league.

“We knew it was going to be difficult to go there and get anything. We wanted to give it a go but unfortunately we fell short.

“But there are not many teams who go to the Eithad and get anything, and we are thinking about what comes next for us.”