標籤: identity

swansea city Having already secured their survival in the Championship, the club’s internal rebuild now takes center stage.

We previously covered parts of Vitor Matos’ interview regarding the striker zhan vipotnik status. Anyway, full conversation with Portuguese newspaper to ball Provides great insight into Swansea’s structure, identity and long-term planning.

Below, the main themes of that interview are organized and expanded upon, with Matos’s full comments preserved and grouped for clarity.

Arrival and immediate priorities

Vitor Matos moved closer to the relegation zone with Swansea. The initial focus was on survival, but also laying the foundation for something more stable.

“Above all, it was a challenge because of the moment the change happened. It was about the moment that mattered for Marítimo and Swansea. It was a decision driven by ambition, but also something I always wanted, which was to return to England. It’s a positive balance.”

“The first big challenge was to stabilize the club, which had fallen to the bottom of the table, very close to the relegation places. The priority was to stabilise, then gradually improve the quality of play and the individual quality of the players.”

He also highlighted how little time he had to implement the ideas in the beginning.

“It’s not easy in the Championship. We arrived after the Bristol game, did two training sessions and then immediately played the derby. Two days later, West Brom away. Only after that did we have time to train properly.”

“So the priority was to get it right, but already trying to present how we wanted to change some things.”

creating a game identity

One of the clearest messages from the interview is that Swansea are trying to redefine the way they play, moving away from previous formations.

“The team was coming from a less positive period and was also playing in a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 formation, which I clearly wanted to change from day one.”

“It’s about understanding the team, identifying the qualities we can work with and starting to shape our view of the game. Understanding the short and medium-term priorities is fundamental for the team to become more competitive.”

Matos also emphasized how complex the process is in a championship environment.

“Stability in this league comes from a lot of little things. It’s a complex process. It has to do with the number of games, the type of opposition and the variability you face.”

“This is part of the development of tactical maturity that the team needs. We have evolved, become more consistent, but there is still a lot of improvement to be made.”

Culture, identity and relationship with the club

Beyond tactics, Matos repeatedly returned to the importance of rebuilding Swansea’s identity and culture.

“A culture isn’t built in a day. The culture we want to develop is about values, a competitive mentality and the connection between players, fans and staff.”

“Swansea is a club with a very rich history and has a very clear identity from its evolution towards the Premier League. That was lost at some point, and that’s what we’re trying to develop again.”

He clarified that this is beyond the pitch.

“For it to survive, there has to be a recruiting vision that aligns with it, a vision of how the club views and engages with the community.”

“There must come a moment where, beyond belief, there is joy in the club’s identity. That’s how we are building.”

To reconnect with that identity, Swansea turned to figures from their past.

“That cultural side is very strong and still exists, but short-term results can push clubs away from it. That was happening.”

“One of our concerns was to bring in Joe Allen and Leon Britton, who represent that period. We found a development path while respecting the essence of the club.”

Competing with top teams and raising the standards

Matos also talked about changing the mentality within the team, especially in matches against stronger opponents.

“It was important to find a base eleven and continuity to make the team more competitive and more effective.”

“We want to look at the top teams and not only compete, but try to dominate them, whether through possession or through pressure.”

“It was important for the club to realize again that it is possible to stay in high positions and compete with the best teams.”

He emphasized that results remain at the center of everything.

“The most important thing is always to win. That’s the basis on which you are evaluated. The way you do it may change, but winning is always the objective.”

Managing change and dealing with pressure

Despite a long-term contract, Matos made clear that short-term pressures still define his role.

“This is a volatile profession, evaluated in the short term. You have to build the process with the idea that there should be feedback from day one.”

“At the same time, your concern should be to improve the quality of the game. This should be visible to the owners and the fans.”

He also stressed the need for gradual development rather than major changes.

“You can’t change everything at once. Sometimes it’s possible depending on the results, sometimes not. You need care on an individual level when making changes.”

“We managed to find stability. We haven’t used a large number of players and we are the team with the lowest number of muscle injuries in the league. This shows the culture and sensitivity.”

Transfer Strategy and Squad Management

One of the most relevant sections to Swansea’s future and players like Zane Vipotnik is how the club approached the transfer market.

“Our biggest concern was not to lose players in January. It’s not about bringing in 14 players and sending out 14.”

“It’s about looking at the team, understanding the priorities, and starting to build something. Only after building can you understand the path.”

Rather than rebuild, Swansea opted for targeted additions.

“We signed Gustavo Nunes from Brentford, Leo Walta and Joel Ward. Each brought something different and added depth in the short term.”

“Joel brought experience and stability. The team needed that. Gustavo is a huge talent and gave us more options, which helped maintain our mobility.”

Matos also highlighted the internal focus.

“Our main objective was to look at all the players including the academy, the squad and those on loan and start building from there.”

What comes next for Swansea?

With survival secured, attention turns to the next phase of the project.

“You always have to build on the present knowing that the future will shape us. We want the club to continue to grow and move towards a play-off position.”

“But it is a very competitive league with a large number of games. Emotional stability is essential.”

He also spoke about the physical demands of the championship.

“We have more games than Bayern. It’s such a high number that you need emotional stability and a strong process.”

“The team must remain focused on training and recovery, even if training time is limited.”

Finally, he outlined a broader vision for the club.

“It’s about building culture, short-term competitiveness and long-term value. That includes the department, the fans, the community and scouting.”

“Everything should work under the same approach, with a clear process that allows players to arrive fresh and ready to compete.”

What does this mean for Swansea

This entire interview shows that Swansea is no longer operating as a short-term survival project.

There is a clear emphasis on stability, identity and controlled development. Swansea suffered from losing key players in January. With a stronger structure now in place, any summer decision will likely follow the same logic – consistent with the broader project set out by Matos.

This makes it much more than a standard transfer case. It is part of a wider rebuild that will define Swansea’s next steps.