Planet Swans ArchivesDe Guzman’s strike on the half hour mark bought the Swans back level on a night where an away goal could have been enough to nick possession but it wasn’t to be this time around although without a doubt we were the better side over two legs.
Napoli managed just five shots on target in 180 minutes against the Swans but it was enough to see them progress against us and our unfortunate statistic of scoring just once from our twenty on target shots – we had more in the Stadio San Paolo then we did at the Liberty but could not finish the chances.
Wilfried Bony had the best of the night but there were other chances both in Naples and Swansea where we had the chance to go through and looking back it is definitely a case of what could have been for the Swans on a fantastic night again for the club at the end of what has been a brilliant European adventure.
Trips to Sweden, Romania, Spain, Russia, Switzerland and Italy used to be the stuff of what would have almost been an exotic pre-season tour but this was competitive football and had there been better finishing and weaker goalkeeping then Portugal would have been the next stop for the Swans who can only wonder what if as they prepare for the visit of Crystal Palace on Sunday to the Liberty.
รขโฌลEveryone is gutted,รขโฌย said de Guzman. รขโฌลWe came here with great confidence I think we showed that on the pitch.
รขโฌลWe played a lot of good football in the first leg, and we did the same here. After they scored the first goal we came back into it, played our stuff and got the goal – itรขโฌโขs just very unlucky that we havenรขโฌโขt gone through.
รขโฌลWe were dominating the game more or less, but if you donรขโฌโขt take your chances you wonรขโฌโขt win the game. Looking back at both games we could have scored a few goals.รขโฌย
Premier League survival for the Swans is not yet guaranteed which means that Sunday’s game takes on massive importance as we look to secure some of the points needed to ensure a fourth Premier League season next time around. And on current form we know that it is most likely a case of when those points arrive rather than if they arrive and Sunday would be a brilliant time to start.
รขโฌลItรขโฌโขs a very important game,รขโฌย De Guzman added. รขโฌลAnd if we take the positives from tonight then we should be able to win.
รขโฌลItรขโฌโขs been a great experience to play in the competition. All the players have enjoyed and hopefully we can come back again.รขโฌย
And I can certainly say that the Europa League has its knockers but I wouldn’t have changed this season’s adventure for anything and completely echo the words of De Guzman and would love another crack sometime soon. Make it so!
