Vitor Matos | We want to bounce straight back
Vitor Matos wants his Swansea City side to respond to their first Championship defeat of the season when they welcome Burnley to the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
The Swans suffered a 2-1 defeat at Southampton in midweek, with Matos admitting his side did not show the required level of aggression during the opening half.
However, the head coach was pleased with the response after the break and believes the experience can help his side as they look to return to winning ways against Burnley.
“I think we didn't start with the aggressiveness we want,” said Matos.
“We didn't push them really how we want them to be pushed back, or dominate in a way that we really impose ourselves on the start as well.
“Second half, I think it was a different game, different in terms of aggressiveness. That allowed us to be dangerous in some positions, recover the ball higher, and that made Southampton much more uncomfortable.
“And I think that's what we can take from the game: the lesson, the importance of starting the game with this desire and with this aggressiveness.”
Despite the setback, Matos insists Swansea's ambitions remain unchanged and says his players showed the right mentality to try and fight their way back into the contest.
“The five games don't change our ambition. Losing this game doesn't change our belief or nothing,” he stressed.
“We will keep improving, understanding what we need to do better to be more consistent against these types of teams as well.
“I'm happy with us because after losing, after being losing 2-0, we still had the desire and the ambition to push Southampton and to press them and to impose our game and try to get the game back to us.”
Matos knows setbacks are inevitable over the course of a long Championship campaign, with the key now being how Swansea respond.
“For sure it's about how you respond. When you lose, you always have feedback," he admitted.
"You always try to understand the whys, but you need to understand as well why you are in a good moment, and then you need to bring that once more, find consistency on that and impose yourself on the next one.
“And that's what we've been trying, that's what we're going to do as well against Burnley. We expect a really good game again.”
Attention now turns to Burnley, with Matos expecting another demanding test against a side who were relegated from the Premier League last season.
The Clarets have taken just three points from their opening six games and remain winless under boss Nicky Hayen.
But Matos believes their league position does not reflect their quality.
“I think it's again a team that the position doesn't really translate how they are,” he added.
“I think it's a team that got relegated from the Premier League. Really good squad, good players, new coach.
“So I think they are at this moment adjusting themselves as well, but the quality is there.
“Early stage in the season still, so a lot to come, and I really expect a good game from them as well.”