Ronald Koeman believes Southampton’s disappointment at drawing with Aston Villa proves his players are developing the mentality they will require to maintain their position in the top four.
Southampton remain second in the Premier League but they will be tested by a daunting run of fixtures in the coming weeks, starting with the visit of Manchester City to St Mary’s on Sunday afternoon. They travel to Arsenal on Wednesday and host Manchester United the following Monday, but Koeman believes his side’s dissatisfaction with their performance in the 1-1 draw with Villa last Monday shows they have no intention of falling away.
“We are growing up because everybody was a little bit disappointed and that says a lot because it’s not a bad result, a draw away against Villa, but we had a little bit of a feeling it was not good enough,” he said. “That’s a good quality to realise that and that means a lot but it’s nice to show the qualities, and it’s always more attention if you play City at home than another team.”
Koeman admitted it will not be easy for Southampton to match the intensity the top sides reach when they have to play big matches in a short space of time. “We have experience in the Premier League but we don’t have the experience that you play every three days on a high level,” he said. “They are always under pressure in Champions League and Premier League and fight for the title and if they slow they have critics and they are used to that.”
Koeman accepts opponents may be more wary of the threat posed by Southampton. “If you saw how Villa played it was not very offensive,” he said. “It was defending. If they think that’s the best way, OK. It was a draw. Opponents watching Southampton now know more than after the first game.”
However, he believes that could work in their favour against City, who are unlikely to sit back and defend. “Normally you will get more space to play because they have the same intention and it’s a more open game than last Monday,” Koeman said.
He was in a relaxed mood, though, and he had time for a playful dig at United’s absence from Europe this season. Asked why Southampton’s players have been able to settle so quickly, he replied: “We have the whole week of training. It’s different in the situation of Liverpool because they play Champions League and we have the whole week – like United.”
