Renato Sanches: Swansea boss Paul Clement feels for 'struggling' Portuguese

Paul Clement says Renato Sanches has the talent to succeed at Swansea City despite substituting the midfielder at half-time of the 1-0 loss at Chelsea.

The manager confirmed that Sanches "wasn't injured, he had a poor half".

But Clement, who signed the 20-year-old on a season-long loan from German champions Bayern Munich, believes the Portugal player will come good.

"He's a player struggling for confidence, he's struggling for form," Clement said.

"We believe we're the right environment to try and get him out of that.

"I don't think in any of the games he's played this year he's showed the kind of talent he has.

"I feel for him because he's a very talented player."

Renato Sanches was substituted at half-time of Swansea's defeat at Chelsea

It is the second time in a week that Clement has defended Sanches, after former players-turned-pundits Robbie Savage and Tim Sherwood criticised his performance in last Saturday's draw with Bournemouth.

There were high expectations for the Portuguese Euro 2016 winner but Sanches has struggled to make an impact in a relegation-threatened Swansea side, although he has also struggled with a thigh injury.

"If you move from Benfica to Bayern Munich and you win a European Championship with Portugal then you are a very good player," Clement added.

The Swans boss denied that he is under any pressure to pick Sanches.

"Absolutely not," he said when asked whether Sanches would automatically start every game.

"When we decided to bring him here it was because he needed experience and to play," he said.

"But he falls under the same remit as all the players.

"They are going to get more opportunities to play if they are performing.

"There is nothing to place to say we are going to play him. It's all on merit."

Swansea's next game is away to Stoke City in the Premier League on Saturday, with the hosts just four points above the Swans who are second from bottom.