Carlos Carvalhal says his Swansea City team have started swimming for the shoreline – buoyed by 14 points in seven matches under his remarkable transformation.
The Portuguese manager loves his marine life metaphors – whether about swimming, fishing or eating seafood – almost as much as he enjoys collecting victories on the football field.
His 1-0 win at home to Burnley was his fourth in the Premier League and means he can now boast some remarkable statistics.
In 11 games in charge in all competitions, he has lost just once – the controversial home defeat to Tottenham.
Seven of those matches have been league games, of which he has won four, drawn two and lost one – meaning his total of 14 points is now one more than his predecessor Paul Clement achieved in the first 20 games of the season.
Only Spurs and Manchester City have collected more points over the same period.
When Carvalhal came in to the club it appeared he needed something like top six type form to steer them clear of the drop zone. Instead, he has delivered something like the form of those clubs in the Champions League places.
It is a remarkable revival that has seen Swansea, bottom of the table and five points adrift of safety when Carvalhal took over in late December, climb clear of the relegation zone.
“When we arrived we were in the deep ocean,” Carvalhal said. “It was very deep and dark. We saw no fishes – only stones.
“We won some games, to put our noses out of the water – it was the first time we’d smelled the fresh air.
“Now, in this moment, we have started swimming and we can now go to the coast.
“But we must continue to swim to reach the coastline.”
Carvalhal felt his bold approach paid off as Swansea continued their revival. South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yueng struck eight minutes from time – his first goal since May 2016 – to lift Swansea to 15th place, two points above the relegation zone.
Ki’s winner came after Carvalhal had made two attacking second-half substitutions with Andre Ayew, making his second Swansea debut after rejoining the club from West Ham on transfer deadline day, and Tammy Abraham sent on to make the difference.
“We have an expression in Portugal at times like we had in the second half,” Swansea manager Carvalhal said. “We say it was time to put all the meat on the barbeque.
“We did that to try to win – and we got the three points. But I felt we deserved it against a strong team and I am very proud of my players.
“Burnley are a difficult team to beat, the third best defensive team in the competition, so it was not easy to score.
“But in the second half, my players want to win a lot – and we tried to help them do that with the players we put on.”
Burnley have now gone 10 games without a victory – the longest winless run in the Premier League.
The game looked to be heading for a likely 0-0 draw until Carvalhal sent on Andre Ayew following his return to the club from West Ham.
The Ghanaian added some poise to the energy of brother Jordan, before Abraham’s arrival gave Burnley something else to think about.
When Kyle Naughton surged into the box, the ball fell invitingly to Ki who drilled a low shot past Nick Pope, just moments after the keeper had made a fine save to deny Jordan Ayew.
The Clarets had shaded a drab first half, but it was Swansea who looked the more probable winners as the game developed.
“The margins are tight and you have to find a way of getting on the right side of it,” Burnley boss Sean Dyche said.
“Even at the start of the season, when we were going so well, I said they were tight games.
“I have said to the players we’re not far away. We’ve got to get players back fit, that will allow this squad to take stock and breathe again.
“But it’s our job to correct the run and my job as manager to do so.”
