Tuesday 20 September 2016 14:55, UK
Leon Britton says Francesco Guidolin has the respect of the Swansea squad after tense moments on the touchline involving Neil Taylor and Ki Sung-yueng in recent weeks.
The Swans host Manchester City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday having failed to win in the Premier League since the opening day of the season and tension has been noticeable between the Italian and two of his players on two separate occasions.
Taylor was substituted in the 42nd minute against Chelsea, visibly unhappy, while Ki reacted angrily to being replaced against Southampton, forcing Guidolin to deny a rift with his squad, and club captain Britton has called on his team-mates to respect the manager and act professionally.
"The manager has got the respect of all the players in the squad," he said. "I've not seen anyone disrespect the manager in training or behind closed doors. He's had a career where he has managed in Italy for so long in the top flight.
"He might not be the big world star name as such, but I think as players you have to respect your manager.
"The players speak in the changing room and on the training ground. On Sunday everyone was frustrated with the way we played, and I think Ki will be disappointed. We are professional, we have to respect the manager and respect the group of players we've got.
"If there is a problem, like always in football, you deal with it in the changing room.
"As much as there is emotion and frustration running high when you are not performing well and you get brought off, at the same time you have to remember we are professionals and we have to respect everyone involved in the football club. They know that, and I hope that's the last we see of that.
"It is down to the manager to deal with it internally when he feels there might be an issue but, as players, we have to respect the whole group.
"It's an emotional game. We've seen it over the years when players react when they come off and they feel maybe they shouldn't have come off, but I think when things calm down they realise it is probably the wrong thing to do, and those boys will know that."
Britton said Guidolin was coping well despite a poor start to the season and is confident Swansea have time to start turning in better performances.
"He seems fine. There are no issues, I know people on the outside like to make stories, but in the changing room and on the pitch there's been no issues," he added.
"Nothing has changed, the training is the same as when we were beating Liverpool and West Ham last season. Things are normal; obviously the performance wasn't great against Southampton but there's still a lot of football to be played and he's just going about his business as usual."
Britton is expecting a tough test against City, who are on an eight-game winning run under new boss Pep Guardiola, of whom he is a big fan.
"They had a great start but whatever changes they make they have a top-quality side all over," he said. "The League Cup holds great memories for us and the Liberty will be a great atmosphere and we have to use it against a team of great confidence.
"I've been a massive fan [of Guardiola], seeing him over the years. We based ourselves on possession and pressing - we looked at Barca a lot. The beliefs were the same as ours."
