Passionate Matos compares Cullen to Bastoni

Vitor Matos has said players like Liam Cullen are the "soul and heart" of Swansea City and insisted the club cannot be dragged down by the weight of history.

Swansea are 15th in the Championship following their entertaining 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough on Monday.

After the game, Matos was asked about Cullen's unfamiliar starting role on the right flank against Boro – and responded by launching a passionate defence of the versatile Wales international.

Swansea academy product Cullen has been consistently praised by managers for his attitude and contribution for club and country.

However, that has not stopped the 26-year-old from facing social media criticism on a regular basis.

The latest example of that came following Wales' World Cup play-off semi-final defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina last month, when Cullen featured as a substitute.

Matos has drawn comparisons between Cullen and Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni, who was sent off in Italy's play-off final loss to the Bosnians four days later.

"I really don't know what is, how do I say, how everyone feels so much in doubt when it's Liam or someone similar, because I just give this example," the Swansea head coach said.

"Yesterday, in the Inter game, Bastoni was subbed. He was the player who got the red card that maybe put Italy in hard situation that ended up with them losing the qualification for the play-off. [But] the stadium just stood and started clapping and pushing a player in a really hard moment.

"Liam is someone from the club and as a club, we need to take care of our own. There's a song that the fans sing, no? And they sing it for Sam [Parker, against Middlesbrough], that was unbelievable.

"We need to take care of these players because they are the soul and heart of the club."

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Vitor Matos has been Swansea head coach since November 2025

Matos said that while he accepts the emotion of fans, a shift in "culture" will help his side progress in the long term.

But eight years since Swansea's seven-year spell in the Premier League came to an end, Matos suggested the club must have realistic expectations as they plot a return to the top flight.

"Those times [in the Premier League] were unbelievable and they are the times we need to build again, but on the way that that's something to be proud of and not something to carry like a big bag of weight on your back," he said.

"We need to enjoy the ride, we need to enjoy the momentum, we need to [recognise] something needs to have a start and Liam is a massive thing for that, like Jay [Fulton] is a massive thing for that like Vigs (Lawrence Vigouroux) is a massive thing for that, Ben [Cabango] is a massive player for that."