Rangel hopes Swansea build on good finish to last season

Kevin De Bruyne is 'ahead of Gerrard, Lampard, Silva and Toure' as Prem's best midfielder EVER, claims Jamie Redknapp after 15-yard diving header... before pundits assess title duel with Arsenal
Arne Slots says it would be 'CRAZY' not to take next step in his career with Liverpool after watching his Feyenoord side win, with Dutchman 'confident' over deal being struck to replace Jurgen Klopp
Phil Foden dazzles as unstoppable Man City move with menace towards Premier League summit, they refuse to bask in all they've achieved, writes MATT BARLOW
Roy Keane has a 'DINOSAUR mentality', blasts West Ham striker Michail Antonio - after Man United legend made thinly-veiled dig at him for podcasting and 'having a laugh' after defeats
John Terry reveals Rio Ferdinand has blanked him on the beach in Dubai in a bitter 13-year-long spat over claims the ex-Chelsea captain racially abused his old team-mate's brother Anton
Dougie Freedman is on Newcastle's shortlist to replace Dan Ashworth as sporting director... but the Magpies could face competition from Man United
Crysencio Summerville to have 3+ shots on target and Leeds to win priced at 6/1 - as the Whites travel to London to take on the struggling QPR
PLAYER RATINGS: Phil Foden rewarded Pep Guardiola for granting him freedom and Kyle Walker was relentless, but which Brighton star learnt brutal lesson and earned 4/10?
Gary Neville reveals why he WON'T be at Nottingham Forest's clash with Man City this weekend amid Sky row, as he accuses Mark Clattenburg of acting 'like a Navy Seal' and giving the team an excuse NOT to win
Jazmin Sawyers 'devastated' after being ruled out of Paris 2024 Olympics through injury... as the British long jump star suffers ruptured Achilles in training
Dan Ashworth 'set to take Newcastle to arbitration' in bid to force through Man United move and end gardening leave, after Old Trafford club 'rejected £20m compensation wanted by Magpies'
Luke Littler taunts Liverpool fans over Merseyside derby defeat... as the Man United fan is jeered at Premier League Darts before beating Gerwyn Price
England and Liverpool legend John Barnes banned from being a company director after his media firm failed to pay £190,000 in tax
Kevin de Bruyne's INCREDIBLE diving header was 'like Robin van Persie at his best', says Jamie Redknapp, as he compares Man City star's goal to Dutchman's famous effort
Sean Dyche and Everton look ready to exit the Boulevard of Broken Dreams after Green Day singer revealed he was a Toffees fan... as the club reap the rewards of changes in derby triumph
THE NOTEBOOK: Pep Guardiola can have Bruno Guimaraes for £100m, 'Hardest Geezer' Russ Cook is no celebrity fan and Man City's social media post backfires
Arne Slot is inspired by Pep Guardiola, is obsessed with tactics and total control - just like his Dutch rival Erik ten Hag... so can the Liverpool target succeed where the Man United boss has failed in the Premier League?
Losing Red Bull's genius Adrian Newey is huge body blow for Christian Horner... leaving the embattled team principal at risk of becoming an emperor with no clothes
Rafael Nadal, 37, schools American kid Darwin Blanch, 16, in just 64 minutes to set up a second-round clash with Alex de Minaur at the Madrid Open
John Terry reveals untold story of how he led Chelsea mutiny and threatened to refuse to fly to Malaysia because young players were sat in first class instead of him under manager's demand
The night Nottingham Forest were REALLY robbed by a dodgy ref! 40 years on, the incredible tale of the official who took a bribe
Arsenal fans fear key factor in this weekend's north London derby against Tottenham could have a huge impact on their title pursuit
Liverpool's Premier League title hopes have gone up in smoke just as Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah started to run on empty, writes DOMINIC KING
Tennis star Corentin Moutet attempts shot with his FOOT after accidentally throwing his racket away on serve during a deciding set tie-break

Paul Clement's Swansea side picked up 29 points in second half of last season
The Welsh outfit ended up 15th in the Premier League after their strong finish
Swansea wrapped up last season with three consecutive league victories
Swansea begin the new top flight campaign with a trip to Southampton

Published: 05:42 EDT, 9 August 2017 | Updated: 06:27 EDT, 9 August 2017

e-mail

Angel Rangel has urged Swansea to build on their strong finish to the last Premier League campaign when they kick off their new season with a trip to Southampton on Saturday.

Paul Clement's side claimed 29 points in the second half of last season, a club record in the Premier League era, to avoid relegation and secure a 15th-place finish in May.

'We hope to carry on that momentum from the end of last season,' Rangel told the club website.

Angel Rangel and his Swansea team-mates start the season with a trip to Southampton

'That was a point we made at the end of last season and again at the start of pre-season.

'Hopefully we can get a few points on the board in the first few games of this season. If you do that, it makes things easier as you go on.'

The Welsh side wrapped up last season with three consecutive league victories over West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Everton.

Since then, Clement has strengthened his squad during the close-season transfer window after adding midfielder Roque Mesa, goalkeeper Erwin Mulder and Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham.

Following their weekend's trip to St Mary's, Swansea host Manchester United on August 19.