Nobody would have imagined that Swansea City would escape relegation. The Swans were deeply submerged in the relegation zone but some late revival of form and some luck factor worked for them as the Welsh side earned the status of playing in the Premier League for one more season.
Let us take a look at 3 important reasons and contributions which made this possible.
Gylfi Sigurdsson
It had to be this Icelandic playmaker. The last few matches played a huge role in their survival and Swansea ground out four wins in the last five matches which were massive regarding their survival.
The 27-year old brought solidity to the side and despite majorly lacking support, he kept his cool to help his team to stay afloat in the Premier League.
He was the second highest goal scorer for the Welsh side as he went on to score nine times for the side. There were a few games when the entire team was lacking inspiration but a glimpse of excellence from the playmaker made all the difference.
He scored a number of delightful free kicks to keep his side in the hunt which later proved to be very decisive.
Paul Clement
When Bob Bradley was sacked, it was looking impossible for the Swans to stay in the Premier League for another season. Francesco Guidolin and Bob Bradley left the team in a limbo but the arrival of Paul Clement changed the whole scenario.
Guidolin improvised on a few things in the starting lineup and started a new setup focusing mainly on Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente. The two players responded in style and Swansea achieved the improbable aim of safety.
After having stints at Chelsea and Bayern Munich, Clement knew how to handle pressure.
The Squad Mentality
The players did not crumble under pressure. Despite conceding the most number of goals, the likes of Alfie Mawson and Federico Fernandez had never panicked.
They had one of the most talented squads in the Premier League and every player had their contribution in this journey. Performances of their relegation rivals also helped them massively though, especially Hull City’s abject collapse.
Sigurdsson led the team from the front and players like Llorente and Leroy Fer saved the best for the last. They showed their credentials by registering a famous 3-2 win over Liverpool which gave them much-needed belief.
And while the late dash to safety would have been something to rejoice about, the Swans need to make sure they are as far away from relegation as possible this time around.
