Saturday 1 April 2017 23:19, UK
Gylfi Sigurdsson has praised Paul Clement’s impact at Swansea City and believes the club will not be in a relegation battle next season if they stay up.
Swansea have won five of 11 games since the former Chelsea assistant coach replaced Bob Bradley in January, pulling them three points clear of the drop zone going into Sunday's clash with Middlesbrough, which is live on Sky Sports.
The match could be telling come the end of the season, but Sigurdsson is confident that former PE teacher Clement will guide the team in the right direction, long term.
"Under Paul Clement the club is in really good hands," Sigurdsson told Sky Sports. "If we stay up the club won't be anywhere near this position next season.
"If he gets a full pre-season and full season to handle the team we will be doing a lot better than we have been.
"A lot of times it does work when you change managers but sometimes it doesn't. Thankfully in this case it has helped us.
"He's a really good manager and gave us that little bit of spark which we needed, we won a couple of games which has given us confidence."
Despite playing in a side fighting relegation, Sigurdsson leads the way in terms of assists across Europe's top five leagues, and such form has attracted a host of suitors.
The Iceland international has previously admitted that a move to a bigger club would be a "dream", but remains focused on the task at hand, while insisting his team-mates deserve some the credit for his goal-creating ability.
"Hopefully I can still improve'" Sigurdsson added. "I have got a few more good years in me. I don't feel like I have a point to prove, all I try and do is play well for Swansea on a weekend, and if the team is doing well, and I am doing well, then I am happy.
"If you look at the big clubs they are probably creating more chances. I am pleased with my delivery from set pieces and my passes this season, but a lot of credit has to go to the strikers and even defenders in our team that are finishing off those chances. It is a mixture of me playing well and them finishing off the chances."
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