Football
ESPN staff 7y

Paul Clement says Swansea still up for the challenge after loss in league debut

Swansea head coach Paul Clement said Saturday's lopsided defeat to Arsenal has not changed his view on the challenge ahead.

Clement was in charge of a Premier League game for the first time and saw his team suffer a 4-0 thrashing at home on Saturday.

But he remained optimistic that Swansea can escape from the current relegation battle.

"Everyone knows the task at hand is a very hard one but we're all up for it," Clement said.

"There are games we are not necessarily expected to win. That's maybe one today, though we would have wanted the scoreline to be much closer.

"There are games we will have to win. We have to make sure when those games come around we are on top form."

Asked about a penalty appeal at 1-0 down on the stroke of half-time, in which midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng was booked after tangling with Laurent Koscielny, Clement said: "I'm surprised -- I thought it was given.

"When I spoke to Ki at half-time, he said, 'It was a penalty -- there was contact on me.'

"I got to look back at it. The referee doesn't get that opportunity, but I saw the video after the game from all the different angles. I saw the reaction of Koscielny and it's a penalty."

Clement also confirmed the signings of Norwich defender Martin Olsson and Tottenham midfielder Tom Carroll are waiting on medicals and paperwork.

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