The final day of the Premier League season is here and the Saints are still capable of catching Liverpool and Tottenham in the search for European football – but it is not in their hands.
A finish within the top six would cap off a fantastic season and guarantee Southampton European football but they will be relying on other results going their way as they travel to the Etihad to face Manchester City needing a win.
Southampton will have to win in Manchester and hope that either, or both, Liverpool and Tottenham drop points (at Stoke and Everton respectively) for them to jump into the top six.
If things were to stay as they are, with Saints in seventh, Koeman’s side would have to rely on Arsenal defeating Aston Villa in the Fa Cup Final on the 30th May – a thoroughly unappealing thought for anyone associated with the South Coast club.
Saints are on 60 points – trailing Spurs by a point and two behind Liverpool in fifth. Despite their lower league position, Southampton’s goal difference is far superior to their rivals – mainly due to defensive solidarity throughout the season – something that would benefit them especially if Liverpool were to draw.
All mathematics is irrelevant however if Southampton fail to get some form of result this Sunday – but they will go into the final day still living off the high of last week’s heavy 6-1 thrashing of Aston Villa at St. Mary’s – it is hard to imagine Koeman tinkering with his team too much after last weekend’s result and no new injuries or suspensions.
Koeman believes that a win in Manchester would mean Europa League would be guaranteed, implying he believes that one of Liverpool or Tottenham will drop points on Sunday.
“If we win on Sunday I think that means we will be fifth or sixth in the league.
“It’s a tough one; they have a strong team with good players but I believe we can get a good result on Sunday.”
The Saints boss continued to say that for a club with Southampton’s financial constraints and after the summer they had, they should be proud of their season even if they don’t pip Tottenham or Liverpool at the weekend.
“Everybody’s proud about the season.
“The season of Southampton is incredible – to finish one point behind Totteham and two behind Liverpool.”
Koeman missed out on the Premier League Manager of the Year award today, losing out to Jose Mourinho, but fans are preparing to once again kit themselves out in orange to honour their manager in their own way this Sunday.
Morgan Schnedierlin and Dusan Tadic are both ruled out through injury and, despite original optimism, long-term absentee Jay Rodriguez will not play in the stadium where he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament – an injury which has kept him out throughout this season and last year’s World Cup.
The reverse fixture at St. Mary’s in November, saw City in an unforgiving mood as they dished out Southampton’s heaviest defeat of the season – Frank Lampard, Yaya Toure and Gael Clichy scored in a 3-0 win which started off a four game losing streak for the Saints.
Southampton have not beaten Manchester City at the Etihad since their return to the Premier League; their last win at Eastlands came in 2004 where James Beattie and Kevin Phillips (2) got the goals in a 3-1 win.
Southampton’s first game back in the Premier League came at the Etihad but ended in 3-2 defeat for Nigel Adkins’ men. Rickie Lambert and Steven Davis came off the bench to put the away side 2-1 up but City managed to claw back the victory through Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri.
