The head coach’s verdict was delivered after another hard-earned victory at the weekend at the Swansea.com Stadium which kept them on the fringes of the play-off picture.
A 1-0 triumph over Bristol City, sealed by Zan Vipotnik’s predatory first-half strike, extended a remarkable sequence of home results and reinforced Matos’ conviction that mentality will determine where his team finish.
Vipotnik’s close-range finish midway through the opening period proved decisive and leaves the Swans six points off sixth place in 15th spot.
The Slovenian forward, once again sharpest inside the penalty area, punished a defensive miscue to register his 16th league goal of the campaign.
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It was his 12th in 16 home league appearances and his sixth in four outings on his own patch — numbers that underline both his reliability and Swansea’s growing authority in front of their own supporters.
Yet this was not a display built on waves of attacking football.
Bristol City fashioned the clearer openings, struck the woodwork twice and forced goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux into key saves.
Swansea, by contrast, made their one gilt-edged opportunity count.
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For Matos, that efficiency was not fortune — it was evidence of a team developing the steel required to rise.
“I think the desire we showed, the hunger, the mentality, the idea of holding nothing back – that mindset was massive today,” said Matos.
“The boys did a really good performance. We’ve put in similar performances like today already in the past as well.
“I think that’s quite important to have because these games can decide positions as well in the table. We were able to compete, we were able to get the three points, so really happy for everyone.”
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Swansea’s surge — seven wins from their last eight league fixtures at home — has transformed their campaign.
Since a 2-1 defeat to Derby County in November, they have been unyielding on home soil, collecting 22 points from a possible 24.
What once looked like an inconsistent season has evolved into one of mounting possibility.
Matos is convinced that the emotional bond between players and supporters has amplified that momentum.
"I think the fans today were unbelievable," the Swansea head coach said.
"That connection is massive. The last 15 minutes, [the fans] played the game with us, they tackled the Bristol players with us, they created the counters with us.
"When you have that feeling, the players can feel it. They feel they can compete against anyone and when you create that feeling in the stadium, it is outstanding."
The closing stages illustrated his point.
Bristol City, chasing an equaliser, threw bodies forward. Emil Riis Jacobsen rattled the crossbar after coming off the bench, while Delano Burgzorg was denied by Vigouroux, who claimed his 10th league clean sheet of the season — seven of those arriving since Matos took the reins.
Earlier, Sinclair Armstrong had clipped the post inside seven minutes as the visitors began brightly.
Even the decisive goal carried a slice of misfortune for the Robins. Neto Borges, attempting to deal with a cross from the right, inadvertently directed his header into Vipotnik’s path.
The striker reacted instinctively, lashing beyond Radek Vitek from point-blank range.
It was ruthless, and it was enough.
Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber, serving a touchline ban and watching from the stands, acknowledged how fine the margins had been.
“We expected a difficult game here, that was crystal clear, but at the same time we have to have a different determination in the final third,” he said.
“I think this was a little bit the missing link. They have, in the end, one chance and they use it. I think we controlled the game in a good way but we need more numbers in the final third.
“When we have a big chance we have to use it. I think everything is really close in every single game but in these moments you have to be ready.”
Swansea are moved to within three points of the top six — at least temporarily — and have built a platform that makes talk of a play-off challenge increasingly difficult to dismiss.
Still, Matos is intent on narrowing the focus.
"We play again at home, which is brilliant and that doesn't happen a lot for us," he said.
"We can recover, rest, focus on Preston because that will be a massive game for us as well."
For now, though, the story is one of appetite. In a division where margins are slender and opportunities fleeting, Swansea City’s willingness to scrap, suffer and seize their moment may be the quality that ultimately propels them up the Championship table.
