Swansea head coach Vitor Matos:
“We needed to control the game without the ball, getting compact, getting the right timings, the right positions, the right organisation.
“We knew Middlesbrough is a really good team with the ball, with a lot of individual technique in all positions, which can hurt you.
“With two games [over Easter] and all the internationals arriving last Thursday, you need first to be organised and compact and then you can put pressure and be effective.
“That’s what we tried and then when we had the ball we tried to use it to create some good chances. We needed to use counter-attacks and for that some players were really important. I think overall it was a good game.”
On Middlesbrough’s penalty:
“From where I was standing it seems that there was not really a contact. But I still haven’t seen it properly.”
Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg:
“First 15, 20 [minutes] – outstanding. I think we came to a ground where everyone has struggled to play against Swansea and their way of playing.
“They’re a good team on the ball. I think we were outstanding with so many players away to keep that control we are so good with – play through, play over, play round.
“It’s a little bit tougher when they get their penalty, then I think we’re back to taking control of the game. There’s a new penalty, 2-1, so it’s tough to go in with 2-1 down after that first half.
“We fought back in the second half, I think we did it very well. We create a lot of opportunities, show a lot of desire, character. It could be easy after that first half to put blame on people or anything or each other. They didn’t, they just fight through it.”
