Carlos: We must fight on

8th February
First team

Carlos Carvalhal insists Swansea City will not be relaxing any time soon as they bid to take another step towards survival against Burnley this weekend.

The Swans have enjoyed a remarkable upturn in fortunes since Carvalhal was appointed at the end of December.

They have taken 11 points from the Portuguese’s first six league games in charge and put together the club’s longest unbeaten run since 2009-10.

Before Carvalhal arrived in Wales, the Swans had banked a mere 13 points from the first 20 games of the Premier League season.

The Swans’ form during Carvalhal’s six-week reign has lifted them from the bottom of the table to 17th place and breathed life into what had been an ailing survival bid.

But the former Sheffield Wednesday manager has brushed off talk that his players may now ease off.

“We were last when I arrived, five points from safety I think,” Carvalhal said.

“Now we are in a better position. We have our heads above the water and we are breathing fresh air, but the sharks are still around us.

“They will push us back down if we do not keep going, and we have to make sure that does not happen.”

Having seen off Liverpool and Arsenal in their last two home Premier League games, the Swans face another big challenge when they host Burnley on Saturday.

But if they can triumph again and results elsewhere go their way, they could find themselves in lower mid-table come the close of the weekend.

Yet for the moment at least, Carvalhal is not looking beyond 17th spot.

“What I want at the end of the season is not to be in the last three positions,” he added.

“This is the most important thing. It’s been a hard road so far. We are proud of what we have done so far but we have not achieved anything.

“What is in the past is in the past – it is in the museum. We must prove every day that we can win points in the Premier League.

“We are still in a bad position. We must fight all the time to put ourselves in a better position.”

* There are some tickets still available for Saturday's clash with Burnley. You can book yours HERE.

* Hospitality lounges and the Riverside Lounge will be showing the early kick-off in the Premier League on Saturday and the England v Wales Six Nations match after the Burnley game. The hospitality lounges will open at 12.30pm while the Riverside Lounge will open at 1pm.