Francesco Guidolin has claimed he could yet continue with Swansea City’s new defensive formation he abandoned before half-time in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
The Swans manager tried a hybrid back three/five system for 42 minutes before hauling off Neil Taylor, to the defender’s obvious anger and frustration.
Guidolin later apologised to the Wales full-back, but said he might try the idea again, even though it coincided with the team’s worst half of the season so far.
“I trust my players and I think we can play with the shape of the first half because we have the quality to play in this way but we have to be more confident,” said the Italian.
“The game changed after our first goal but confidence changed in my players and we had to improve in this. We had to be more confident.
“It’s a very good result against a very strong team. For us, it was difficult after Chelsea’s first goal because before that we played good football and then with a new shape they were difficult so I chose to change something.
“I am sorry to Neil Taylor because I made a mistake. I should have waited three minutes to make the change.
“We needed a changed man and in the second half we played better and more aggressive and I am happy for the result but it was a very, very difficult game and Chelsea are a strong team.
“He [Taylor] is a good guy and he understood. There is no problem between the two of us. In the dressing room we spoke together, there was no problem. At that moment my team needed a reaction and I had to change something.”
Guidolin opted to replace the defender with forward Modou Barrow in the 42nd minute when his side were trailing by a goal after Diego Costa opened the scoring at the Liberty Stadium.
The Italian’s decision not to wait until the break to make the change appeared to have angered Taylor, who refused to shake Guidolin’s hand as he expressed his disappointment.
Diego Costa gave the visitors the lead with his third goal of the season, as Chelsea went in search for their fourth win of the campaign.
Swansea turned things around after the break, with two goals in two minutes thanks to Gylfi Sigurdsson’s (59) penalty and Leroy Fer’s (62) opportunistic finish.
But Chelsea eventually rescued a point and ensured their unbeaten start to the season remained intact nine minutes from time as Costa, who was influential throughout the match, struck with an overhead kick.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte not only felt Fer had clearly fouled Gary Cahill before scoring, but argued both Jordi Amat and Federico Fernandez could have been sent off for repeated fouls on Costa.
“I am surprised Swansea did not have a player sent off,” said Conte.
“The defenders deserved a second yellow card, I do not want to reply about this but after the game I am asked about it.
“I was asked about the patience of Diego Costa and I can tell you he behaved fantastically well to control the situation because he took a lot of kicks from the first minute until the end.
“It is difficult but he showed me and his team-mates that he has fantastic behaviour and it was not easy for him.
“I think he gets targeted by defenders. They know him and sometimes they try to provoke him. It is a normal situation. Diego is a player with good patience and they try to provoke him but this is football. I think the referee must see these things to allow Diego Costa to play his football.”