Fabianski praises Swansea defence, singles out Llorente for his efforts

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The Swans keeper was delighted to have kept a clean sheet, saying the whole team, including Llorente, were excellent defensively

Swansea City’s Fernando Llorente has been praised by his goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski

Speaking to Swansea’s official club website, Lukasz Fabianski has singled out the defensive work of new signing Fernando Llorente for helping his side maintain a clean sheet in their opening day victory over newly promoted Burnley.

The Swans looked solid at the back and Fabianski praised his teammates for their hard graft, going beyond just the back four in front of him but praising their midfield and also Fernando Llorente for ensuring the Clarets were kept at bay.

Llorente was also a threat going forward, and it was his header from a Montero cross that forced the only goal of the game, as England goalkeeper Tom Heaton parried his effort straight into the path of box-to-box midfielder Leroy Fer.

Fabianski has praised his teammates’ defensive work

But Fabianski made to clear that the 6ft 5″ centre-forward was equally effective going towards his own goal, as he was towards that of the opposition.

“We were delighted with the win and clean sheet.

“For the defensive side of our game it is great to keep a clean sheet because it gives you confidence going forward. You know all the work you put in during pre-season is working.

“Everyone worked very hard defensively. The defenders did a great job but the midfielders and Fernando (Llorente) also played a big part in stopping them from scoring.”

A clean sheet and three points is the perfect start for Swansea

Fabianksi himself also played a crucial part in the Welsh club’s victory in Lancashire, pulling off a fine stop in the game’s dying embers to make sure the Swans would talk all of the spoils from the curtain raiser.

Swansea did have other chances to secure the game, with Llorente and Fernandez spurning opportunities from under six yards out.

Swansea City’s Fernando Llorente in action in pre-season

But in the end it did not matter, as Swansea’s resilience won out, gifting Francesco Guidolin the perfect start, whilst inflicting a first league defeat on Burnley in 2016.