Guidolin labels Villa visit as 'most important game'

Swansea sit eight points and two places above the relegation zone with eight games remaining, but have a tough end to the season, with fixtures against Chelsea, Leicester City, Liverpool, West Ham United and Manchester City to come.

(Reuters)

Guidolin was hospitalised with a chest infection before their 2-1 away win over Arsenal on March 2 and missed his team's 1-0 home victory over Norwich City and 3-2 defeat by Bournemouth the following weekends.

"We have an important game on Saturday, and it the most important game of the season for us," the 60-year-old Italian told a pre-match news conference.

"We have to play well and we hope to get a good result to take into the last part of the season."

Seven-times champions Villa are last in the 20-team league, eight points behind 19th-placed Newcastle United and nine from safety.

"I know their situation, and I know how difficult matches like this can be," Guidolin added. "But I hope to see my team play well, with concentration and intensity."

(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien)