Wanyama thriving in Saints side

Southampton’s Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama has said that he is enjoying the extra responsibilities that Saints manager Ronald Koeman is laying on his shoulders.

Wanyama is currently entering his third season as a Saints player having joined from Celtic in 2012. However, this is the first season that he has not started alongside Frenchman Morgan Schneiderlin.

Morgan Schneiderlin joined Manchester United this summer from the Saints and he has left Victor Wanyama with a heavy mantle to hold. Despite this, the defensive midfield player has said that he is enjoying the extra pressure and is hoping to play a pivotal role in another successful season under Ronald Koeman.

It’s always difficult, but I’m now getting to know my new teammates well and also they are getting to know me.

Hopefully we can start working better as a unit and it will click very soon.

Morgan and I were similar because we both liked to tackle and both liked to link up with the strikers, but now it’s a little bit different.

It takes time to gel as a unit, but now they’ve started to get to know the playing style. Hopefully we can stay together like that and perform well.

We need to play according to our strengths. Also now I think I have more responsibility to take than last season. I think that makes me a better player and it’s something that I enjoy.

Victor Wanyama made no secret of his desire to join Tottenham in the summer and follow ex-teammate Morgan Schneiderlin out the door.

I’m feeling good. In football you have a lot of speculation, but that’s behind me now. I’m concentrating on my game and the team.

I’m a professional and I just want to be on the pitch doing my best to help the team. I think we haven’t started the season so well, but we are catching up now and hopefully it’s going to be a good season.

However, Ronald Koeman blocked any potential move for the Kenyan and he has now praised Koeman for the faith that he has shown in him since the summer.

The manager was important. He has been a player in the same situation and he understood me. He has helped me a lot and it has been good talking to him.