Swansea City

Mark Hughes Shows National Loyalties by Claiming it Is 'Important' for One Club to Avoid Relegation

As the Premier League heads into the closing weeks of the season, Stoke City’s Welsh manager Mark Hughes has said it is important for his country’s football that Swansea City remain in the Premier League.

The former Wales International witnessed his side lose 2-0 to 18th-placed Swansea City on Saturday, courtesy of goals from Fernando Llorente and Tom Carroll.

Swansea City v Burnley - Premier League

In an interview with ?Wales Online, Hughes, who won 72 caps with Wales during his playing career, commented that while it will be tough for Paul Clement’s side it is ‘important’ that they avoid the drop.

“It’s going to be tough for them and it will be very close, but they’re a very talented side,” Hughes said.

“With the quality they have on paper you look at their team and wonder how have they got themselves into this situation.

Stoke City v Chelsea - Premier League

“We’ve helped them in terms of what they’re hoping for from the games they’ve got left. I’m sure they’ll do everything they can to stay up. It’s important for Welsh football clearly if they can stay in the league. But they have to go out there and do it,” he said.

Stoke have now gone six consecutive away games in a row without finding the back of the net in a single one of those games. Former Swansea City star Joe Allen was the closes the Potters have come to scoring after his deflected Tom Carroll shot dipped over Jack Butland and into the opposition’s net.

Joe Allen also commented on the own goal with the following: “Everyone in there knows that we weren’t good enough today and didn’t do enough to get a result.

Swansea City v Stoke City - Premier League

“We have to make sure we react next weekend, it’s as simple as that.”

Mark Hughes’ Stoke City come up against a struggling Slaven Bili?’s West Ham side in Saturday’s 3pm kick-off. The home side will be looking to take all three points as they attempt to finish as high up in the table as possible with eighth not too far out.