Swansea City have already secured Championship survival, but the club’s internal rebuild is now taking centre stage.
We previously covered parts of Vítor Matos’ interview regarding the striker Žan Vipotnik’s situation. However, the full conversation with Portuguese newspaper A Bola offers a much deeper insight into Swansea’s structure, identity and long-term plan.
Below, the key themes from that interview are organised and expanded, with Matos’ full comments preserved and grouped for clarity.
Arrival and immediate priorities
Vítor Matos arrived with Swansea close to the relegation zone. The initial focus was survival, but also laying foundations for something more stable.
“Above all, it was a challenge because of the moment the change happened. It was about what that moment meant for Marítimo and Swansea. It was a decision driven by ambition, but also by something I always wanted, which was to return to England. It is a positive balance.”
“The first big challenge was to stabilise the club, which had dropped into the lower part 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 ideas early on.
“It is not easy in the Championship. We arrived after the Bristol game, had two training sessions and then immediately played Derby. Two days later, West Brom away. Only after that did we have time to train properly.”
“So the priority was to recover, but already trying to introduce how we wanted to change certain things.”
Building a playing identity
One of the clearest messages from the interview is that Swansea are trying to redefine how they play, moving away from previous structures.
“The team was coming from a less positive phase and also playing in a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 structure, which from day one I was very clear I wanted to change.”
“It is about understanding the squad, identifying the qualities we can work with and starting to shape our idea of play. Understanding the short and medium-term priorities, what is fundamental for the team to become more competitive.”
Matos also stressed how complex that process is in the Championship environment.
“Consistency in this league comes from many small things. It is a complex process. It has to do with the number of games, the type of opposition and the variability you face.”
“That has been part of the growth of the tactical maturity the team needs. We have grown, become more consistent, but there is still a lot to improve.”
Culture, identity and connection with the club
Beyond tactics, Matos repeatedly returned to the importance of rebuilding Swansea’s identity and culture.
“A culture is not built in one day. The culture we want to develop is about values, competitive mentality and the connection between players, fans and staff.”
“Swansea is a club with a very rich history and a very clear identity from its growth towards the Premier League. That was lost at some point, and that is what we are trying to develop again.”
He made it clear that this goes beyond the pitch.
“For that to exist, there has to be a recruitment vision that aligns with it, a vision of how the club sees the community and how it engages with it.”
“There has to be a moment where, beyond belief, there is enjoyment of what the club’s identity is. That is how we have been building.”
To reconnect with that identity, Swansea leaned on figures from its past.
“That cultural side is very strong and still existed, but short-term results can push clubs away from it. That was happening.”
“One of our concerns was bringing Joe Allen and Leon Britton, who represent that period. We found a growth path while respecting the club’s essence.”
Competing with top teams and raising standards
Matos also spoke about changing the mentality within the squad, particularly in matches against stronger opponents.
“It was important to find a base eleven and consistency, to make the team more competitive and more dominant.”
“We want to look at top teams and not only compete, but also try to dominate them, whether through possession or pressing.”
“It was important for the club to feel again that it is possible to be in higher positions and compete with the best teams.”
He reinforced that results remain central to everything.
“The most important thing is always winning. That is what you are judged on. The way you do it can change, but winning is always the objective.”
Managing change and dealing with pressure
Despite a long-term contract, Matos made it clear that short-term pressure still defines his role.
“It is a volatile profession, judged in the short term. You have to build the process with the idea that there must be a response from day one.”
“At the same time, your concern must be improving the quality of play. That must be visible to owners and fans.”
He also emphasised the need for gradual evolution rather than drastic changes.
“You cannot change everything at once. Sometimes it is possible, depending on results, sometimes not. You need care at an individual level when making changes.”
“We managed to have stability. We have not used a large number of players and we are the team with the fewest muscle injuries in the league. That reflects culture and sensitivity.”
Transfer strategy and squad management
One of the most relevant sections for Swansea’s future – and players like Žan Vipotnik – is how the club approached the transfer market.
“Our biggest concern was not to lose players in January. It is not about bringing in 14 players and sending 14 away.”
“It is about looking at the squad, understanding priorities and starting to build something. Only after building can you understand the path.”
Instead of a 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 out wide, helping maintain our dynamics.”
Matos also highlighted the internal focus.
“Our main objective was to look inward, at the academy, the squad and all players, including those on loan, and start building from there.”
What comes next for Swansea
With survival secured, attention has shifted to the next stage of the project.
“You always have to build the present knowing the future will shape us. What we want is for the club to continue to grow and move towards play-off positions.”
“But it is a very competitive league with a huge number of games. Emotional stability is essential.”
He also pointed out the physical demands of the Championship.
“We have more games than Bayern. It is such a high number that you need emotional stability and a strong process.”
“The team must stay focused on training and recovery, even when training time is limited.”
Finally, he outlined the broader vision for the club.
“It is about building culture, short-term competitiveness and long-term value. That includes departments, fans, community and scouting.”
“Everything must work under the same vision, with a clear process that allows players to be fresh and ready to compete.”
What this means for Swansea
This full interview shows Swansea are no longer operating as a short-term survival project.
There is a clear emphasis on stability, identity and controlled growth. Swansea resisted losing key players in January. With a stronger structure now in place, any summer decision will likely follow that same logic – aligned with the broader project Matos has laid out.
That makes this more than a standard transfer situation. It is part of a wider rebuild that will define Swansea’s next steps.
