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Swansea's Ki Sung-yueng targets end-of-season flourish

Sung-Yueng Ki of Swansea City scores his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Stoke City at Liberty Stadium.
Image: Ki scoring Swansea's second against Stoke

Midfielder Ki Sung-yueng has warned Southampton that Swansea have their eyes on seventh place in the Premier League and a potential spot in Europe.

Southampton's 2-1 defeat at relegation-threatened Sunderland on Saturday has opened the door for Swansea to make a late charge for Europe after their 2-0 home victory over Stoke.

Swansea are now only four points adrift of Southampton with three games remaining and seventh place could be enough for Europa League football next season if Arsenal beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup final.

"I think it's not impossible that we can challenge for seventh position," Ki said after his scoring cameo from the bench against Stoke.

"Of course, we have some tough games left and it will be difficult.

"But we have done very well against big teams this season and we will keep pushing ourselves as hard as we can."

Ford Monday Night Football

But Swansea face a difficult run-in on paper, visiting Arsenal on Monday Night Football on May 11, before hosting Manchester City and concluding their campaign at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.

More from Swansea V Stoke

Southampton face a trip to in-form Leicester next weekend, before facing Aston Villa at St Mary’s next weekend and visiting Manchester City on the final day of the season.

"Maybe people think we will let up in the next game against Arsenal because we won on Saturday against opponents just behind us," Ki said.

"But two years ago we won 2-0 up there and we beat them earlier in the season. So we'll try to get the double, like we did against Manchester United."

Ki's injury-time finish against Stoke was his eighth goal this term, making him the joint-top scorer still at the club, with Wilfried Bony having scored nine times before his January move to Manchester City.

"This has been the best season of my career," said the South Korea international.

"I didn't expect I could score so many goals this season but first off I want to make sure I help the team.

"We want to do well in the next two games because they are massive."

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