Swansea City need leaders after Ashley Williams' departure, Bob Bradley says
Thursday 17 November 2016 15:30, UK
Bob Bradley believes Swansea are missing Ashley Williams' leadership skills following the defender's departure in the summer transfer window.
Williams left the Liberty Stadium in a £12m move to this weekend's opponents Everton, ending an eight-year association with the Swans during which time he became captain and earned international recognition with Wales.
In his absence, Swansea have won just one Premier League game this season - the opening-day 1-0 victory at Burnley - and go into Saturday's match having taken two points from the last 30 available.
"I've heard many stories about Ashley, and they always begin with his leadership ability," said Bradley.
"I understand that when a player that carries that type of responsibility within a team chooses to leave, the work needs to be done to build that type of leadership back into the team.
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"It might not come from one player, it may come from a group. But, without a doubt, we need more leadership and leadership on the field in different ways.
"It can be a strong voice but it can also be from making plays. We need more guys that, when the game starts, are ready to take real action. When you lose a leader, everyone is challenged to take a bigger role."
South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yeung has claimed the club are going through a "crisis" and while Bradley does not agree with such a classification, he does admit the team need to be stronger and more intense.
"I wouldn't say it's a crisis," said Bradley. "It's 11 games, four for me. We understand we are in an important stretch and need results.
"I wouldn't say crisis but we need to be strong. I look at us and see sometimes that we are in a good position but we don't always have the strong reaction and intensity that we need.
"No matter what we have to play with an urgency, passion and commitment."
