That message came into sharp focus after a narrow 2-1 defeat to Southampton, whose remarkable run under Tonda Eckert continued with a late winner that extended their surge towards automatic promotion.
For Swans head coach Matos, however, the bigger picture stretches beyond a single result — even one decided in the closing moments.
“It’s an aim to finish as high as we can, maybe in the top 10 – but we need to measure ourselves in terms of performance rather than just results,” said Matos.
“At the moment, the performance levels need to be more consistent.”
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Swansea have three games remaining – away to Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday, then a trip to Norwich City, followed by a final game at home to Charlton.
Having won five out of eight matches a few weeks ago, Matos’s side have now managed just one win in six matches, slipping to 15th in a crowded mid-table.
But the coach who took charge midway through the campaign continues to emphasise growth over short-term frustration.
That theme was repeated throughout his post-match reflections, where the Portuguese claimed that fine margins — rather than any gulf in quality — ultimately decided the contest.
“The details make the difference, small things make the difference, and that's something that we need to learn when we want to compete against these kinds of teams,” said Matos.
“I think we showed that we can compete and then it's about consistency.
“That consistency is what we still lack and we need to try to find it.”
Swansea had given as good as they got for long spells, with Marko Stamenic’s early strike putting them ahead before in-form Southampton responded through Shea Charles and a dramatic 90th-minute winner from Cameron Archer.
Matos felt the game itself underlined both the progress his side have made — and the next step they must take.
“I think we matched the form team in the Championship in most areas, but the most important thing is that everyone keeps believing, and everyone keeps fighting for our identity
“Because that's what will, in the end, in the future, for sure, make us a better team and it put us in a better place.”
Southampton, now unbeaten in 16 league matches and chasing a return to the Premier League, provided a clear benchmark.
But Matos refused to frame the defeat in terms of deserved outcomes.
“I think it was a quite balanced game in terms of moments, in terms of opportunities as well for both teams. It's not about, 'you deserve more' or 'deserve less'.
“The game is done, so they won. We lost. If it was the other way around, I would have said the same. So, that's the true nature about football. In terms of performance, we want to do better. We need to do better.”
“There were good moments in the first half, some good moments in the second. But there's a lot of things we can do better when we have the ball in the opposition half, not rushing too much, having more calm, getting confidence, and that's quite important for us.”
The contest became increasingly open after the break, a pattern Matos acknowledged neither side fully controlled.
“I think it didn't suit either team. In the end, the intensity level made it a really hard game for both teams. We all saw that and we all felt that.”
While Southampton’s momentum has been driven by decisive contributions from the bench — with Archer and Charles turning the game — Matos is still searching for decisive impacts from all his substitutes and a formula that allows his side to manage key moments more effectively.
“We need to learn how to have these moments, how to survive, how to find again the momentum, how to put the team together, how to travel together on the pitch when we have the ball, how to make the team compact and ready to press when we don't have it.”
For the head coach, this is all part of a longer-term process — one that goes beyond league position.
“It's so tight at the moment and that's how the league is. So, the most important thing is not to measure yourself by data, but measure yourself in terms of performance.
“And that's what we need, to measure ourselves in terms of performance, measure ourselves in terms of developing, and learn to be more consistent.
“That is massive. That's massive for us.”
