By Graham Thomas
Carlos Carvalhal admits he will not watch Huddersfield Town’s game at Chelsea which could all but condemn Swansea City to relegation.
The Portuguese knows his side now need a miracle to stay in the Premier League after Tuesday’s home defeat by relegation rivals Southampton.
The Terriers are three points ahead of the Swans and a point at Stamford Bridge in Wednesday night’s televised game will secure their safety.
But defeat against a side chasing a Champions League spot would offer Carvalhal’s demoralised outfit a glimmer of a lifeline going into the final day on Sunday.
The Swansea face already relegated Stoke City at home while Huddersfield entertain Arsenal in what is Arsene Wenger’s final game.
“I don’t want to see that game,” said Carvalhal of Huddersfield’s trip to London. “We will look at the score at the end.
“It’s horrible not to depend on ourselves any more, but let’s see what will happen.
“We will wait for some kind of miracle to happen.”
Southampton are also three points ahead of the Swans and face Manchester City at home in their final home game.
But given their superior goal difference it would take a 10 goal swing to keep Swansea up if Huddersfield get that point on Wednesday night.
“We must now wait to see if we have a chance, but my feeling is one of frustration.
“It’s very difficult to talk about this game because my players did the maximum.
“We created chances and they made some fantastic saves. My team ran and fought and played with commitment and heart. We put more players in attack, but we didn’t achieve the goal.”
Carvalhal looked to be performing the miracle he talked about when after succeeding Paul Clement he took Swansea out of the relegation zone.
But a run of eight games without a win has sent them back into the drop zone with Manolo Gabbiadini’s winner at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday meaning it is not now in Swansea’s hands.
The Swans have not scored in the last four games but Carvalhal has defended his use of a five-man defensive shield.
“We played with three attackers,” added the ex-Sheffield Wednesday manager. “It was not exactly five at the back.
“But that’s not why we are not scoring goals. We were scoring goals before when we used that system.”
“I will not put the responsibility on my players. If we didn’t create chances that might be the case, but we did create chances tonight. It’s my responsibility.
“Both teams tried to win the game. They put more players in attack and we did the same. But the goal made a big impact, because the emotions were very high.”
“My team ran and fought and played with commitment and heart. We put more players in attack, but we didn’t achieve the goal.”
