Kyle Bartley signed a new contract at Swansea City rather than returning to Leeds United this summer.
A 4-0 home defeat doesn’t usually reflect too kindly on a centre-back’s performance.
However, the fact that Kyle Bartley was named Swansea City’s Man of the Match in their thumping defeat to Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime is perhaps explained by the fact that three of the visitors’ goals occurred after the defender was subbed off to make way for more attackers mid-way through the second half.
In his 66 minutes on the pitch, Bartley was Swansea’s stand-out performer. Winning four aerial duels and three interceptions, plus a game-high 10 clearances, the 26-year-old centre-back looked more than a match for United’s £75 million striker Romelu Lukaku.
Therefore, if he was concerned about the prospect of returning to Swansea this summer after a fruitful loan spell at Leeds United, he needn’t have worried.
Bartley has started both of The Swans’ Premier League fixtures so far this season and Eric Bailly’s late, first-half strike on Sunday was the first goal Paul Clement’s side have conceded with the former Arsenal youngster on the pitch.
Leeds’ loss, Swansea’s gain
And though Leeds have kept three clean sheets in succession in the Championship with Liam Cooper stepping up to fill the void left by Bartley, The Whites would still surely welcome him back with open arms.
Yet, it appears that Swansea have made the right call keeping Bartley in South Wales. The club have never managed to adequately replace inspirational captain Ashley Williams but Bartley, through his aerial prowess and quiet authority, could finally offer a degree of solidity to a defence breached more times than any other except Hull City last season.
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