Laudrup focusing on positives

Michael Laudrup is keen to take the positives from his side's narrow defeat at the hands of Chelsea on Boxing Day.

The Swans were beaten 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Barclays Premier League, courtesy of Eden Hazard's 29th minute strike.

The Belgian winger cut in from the left, jinking past Jordi Amat, before firing a shot underneath the body of Gerhard Tremmel.

In truth, the home side could have been further in front, had Samuel Eto'o taken two glorious chances that fell his way.

On either side of the midway point, the Cameroon striker found himself in on goal, only to be denied superbly by Tremmel on both occasions.

The Swans weren't without chances though, with their best opportunity coming in the first-half when Alvaro Vazquez fired a first-time effort at goal, which was tipped over the bar by Petr Cech.

Despite the defeat, Laudrup's side remain in 11th position in the Barclays Premier League, and the Swans boss hopes that his team can take the positives from today's game into Saturday's fixture against Aston Villa.



"It's important that we use the positives from today's game," declared Laudrup. "It's never good to lose a game, but the fact that we were still in there is a positive.

"I think in terms of chances, it was more or less what I expected. We knew they would have two or three big chances and maybe some half chances.

"We had one big chance from Alvaro [Vazquez] in the first-half, but you won't create many chances away at Chelsea. If you want to win, you have to take the chances you have.

 "I think we started ok. When you play teams like this - especially at their home ground - you know you will have parts of the game where you will suffer a bit because of the quality their players have.

"We had 15 minutes in the first-half where we were under pressure, and we defended too deep. They had a big chance one-on-one with Eto'o.

"We nearly gave them a goal after just 20 seconds in the second-half, which we could have defended better, but after that, I felt we were in the game until the last second.

"Overall, I am satisfied, but we have to bring that positivity into the next game against Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho lauded the performance of Tremmel, stating that he felt the German goalkeeper prevented his side from a much more comfortable afternoon.

"If you add all of the chances, we could have gone home with a comfortable result," said Mourinho. "Their goalkeeper made three or four fantastic saves. He played very well.

"The biggest reason for our lack of goals today was because of their goalkeeper.

"The first thing that happens in the second-half is probably the best chance of the game. He then saves another from Lampard.

"When time goes on and you don't get the second goal, your opponents begin to believe they can score and take more risks.

"In the end, it was a deserved victory and an important victory."