Swansea boss Francesco Guidolin denies dressing-room rift after Ki Sung-yueng clash

Swansea boss Francesco Guidolin was forced to deny more apparent rifts with his players following his team's 1-0 loss to Southampton on Sunday.

Guidolin suffered a public fall-out with Neil Taylor last week, hauling him off before half-time against Chelsea and leaving him out of the squad altogether against Saints.

And this time it was midfielder Ki Sung-yueng who clashed with his manager, reacting angrily to being taken off.

But while Guidolin admitted he was disappointed with the reaction, he rejected claims of a rift within the squad.

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"This is not a good attitude," said the under-pressure Italian. "I have to speak with him.

"I respect all my players, the relationship is important. There is no problem. In this squad I have good guys, good players, there is no problem with the relationship. I can understand it, but it's not a good situation.

"There is not a problem between me and Neil. In this period I prefer Stephen [Kingsley]. I have Angel Rangel as sub and Kyle Naughton can play left or right so I don't need another left-back in the ranks."

Of more pressing concern for Guidolin was an abject performance against the Saints, with striker Fernando Llorente not getting so much as a sniff of an opportunity to open his goal account.

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"I am disappointed. We have to improve as soon as possible, because this way it's difficult to win in the Premier League," he added.

"I am worried because my job is my job and it is my attitude to be always ready if it's possible.

"Now we have Man City on Wednesday [in the EFL Cup], Man City again on Saturday, and then Liverpool. We have to improve. The opponent is not important, but our attitude is."

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