Garry Monk: 'Swansea City deserve last-16 spot'

Garry Monk believes that his Swansea City players should feel short-changed over their Europa League exit in the 3-1 defeat to Napoli tonight.

The Swans were leading the tie until the closing 12 minutes after Jonathan de Guzman cancelled out Lorenzo Insigne's opener, putting the Welsh outfit in pole position to progress on away goals.

However, Gonzalo Higuain struck on 78 minutes to edge the Partenopei ahead before Gokhan Inler put the result beyond doubt in the closing stages.

City consequently bow out of the competition, but Monk feels that his troops deserved to progress into the last 16 for their hunger shown throughout both legs.

Monk told Wales Online: "I couldn't ask for any more from [my players]. After 180 minutes against a side as good as this, to push them all the way in every minute until the very last one and to have enough chances to win five games let alone one, says everything about how good we are.

"I am gutted for them because they deserved more for the application and effort they put in when most teams who come here would sit back."

Swansea resume domestic duties by hosting Crystal Palace at the Liberty Stadium at the weekend.