Carvalhal aiming to stick around

28th December
First team

Carlos Carvalhal hopes to make a home at Swansea City after agreeing to become the club’s new manager.

The Portuguese has signed a deal which runs initially until the end of the season.

But there is an option of an extended contract, and Carvalhal has fingers crossed that he will be in Wales well beyond the 2017-18 campaign.

The 52-year-old says he had no qualms about signing a short-term deal at the Liberty – because that is the way he worked throughout his time at previous club Sheffield Wednesday.

“I started three seasons at Sheffield Wednesday, but I only signed for one year at a time,” Carvalhal explained.

“The chairman offered me a contract for three years, but I refused because I preferred to sign for one year and then to see if everyone is happy with me.

“I don’t want a contract to create any kind of wall. I am very comfortable because I don’t want to stay at any club that does not want me.

“If we do things right here at Swansea, we will stay here for a long time.

“But if we don’t, we will not stay here even if we have a long contract.”

Carvalhal has vast experience as a manager, having worked at 15 different clubs in a coaching career which began in his native Portugal in the late 1990s.

He looks back fondly on his time with Wednesday, who he led to the Championship play-offs in successive seasons.

And Carvalhal, who is set to confirm the make-up of his backroom staff in the next few days, is convinced he can make a strong impression at the Liberty.

“I am confident myself and my staff can help the club to a better position,” he added.

“Then in five or six months, we will look and take a decision on whether we stay here. But my future is not a problem.

“I don’t worry about a paper contract. You have to prove yourself day by day, to the fans and the media and the club and the players.

“After that, things will come naturally.

“I will try to stabilise the club because I wish to be here for a long time. We stayed for two-and-a-half years at Sheffield Wednesday, but in the Championship the average (length of reign) for a manager is only six or eight months.

“We believe we can do very good work here at Swansea and that’s what we’ll try to do.”

Carvalhal has revealed he expects to bring in four members of staff – two on the coaching team plus two analysts.

What role player-assistant coach Leon Britton, who has been in caretaker control for the last two games, will play is not yet clear.

“I am sure he deserves a lot of respect from the club and we will consider the importance he has in the club,” Carvalhal said.

“Let’s see in which position he can help the club the most, because that’s the important thing.”