Monday 7 December 2015 06:44, UK
Beleaguered Swansea boss Garry Monk insists he will carry on fighting in his job, even though he admits he does not know what more he can do to stop the club's slide down the Premier League.
Time appears to be running out on Monk's 22-month reign at the Liberty Stadium after a run of one win in 11 league games which has plunged Swansea from a top-four spot to being a single point above the relegation zone.
It is understood the Swansea board have grave concerns as to whether Monk can turn around the club's fortunes and might make a change in the dug-out before Saturday's daunting trip to Manchester City.
But Monk responded to the crushing 3-0 home defeat to Leicester by saying: "I have never thought I've had enough. I have never quit anything in my life - I will fight as hard as I can because I want the club to do well and I want to bring success.
"No one knows the principles of the club more than myself and no one will fight harder. That's never in question. It is extremely frustrating, and that is putting it nicely. I don't know what more I can do.
It is a precarious situation where we are getting dragged close to the relegation places and we can't afford to not be getting results for a sustained period.
"I am trying to find all the ways to make it better and produce."
Monk said before the Leicester game that he felt his side had turned a corner following an improved performance in the 1-0 defeat at in-form Liverpool the previous weekend.
But Swansea were soon a sorry sight as they were cut to ribbons by the league leaders, with Riyad Mahrez scoring the first two goals of his hat-trick inside the opening 22 minutes.
Boos from home supporters greeted both the half-time and full-time whistle and Monk, tipped as a future England manager only a few short months ago, admitted the buck stopped with him.
"We can talk about players or this or that but ultimately it is with me," said Monk, 36, who has been at Swansea since joining as a player in 2004.
"It is my responsibility for the results and performances. Simple as that. I pick the team, I train the team and try to do it to my best.
"It is frustrating when you work hard with the players all week and see a really good attitude towards everything.
"All week there was barely a day I can say there was a bad training session or they didn't quite understand it.
"Unfortunately, you go on that pitch and it doesn't work out, and you wonder the reasons why. Obviously confidence plays a big part in this type of run, but I think our mentality has to be stronger than ever."
Swansea's solitary win since beating Manchester United at the end of August came at bottom club Aston Villa in late-October.
In all, Swansea have taken only six points from the last 33 on offer and have now lost four of their last five games.
"Of course I am worried," Monk said. "It is not a good situation that we are in and people need to step up to the plate now.
"It is a precarious situation where we are getting dragged close to the relegation places and we can't afford to not be getting results for a sustained period.
"That is very clear, but you have to trust yourself as any experienced coach will tell you. It is not as if I have not been working on things to rectify it."
