Koeman – Juanmi needs time

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has admitted that Spanish forward Juanmi is going to need time to adapt to the Premier League tempo before he starts showing people his best form.

The 22-year-old was signed for a fee of around £5m from La Liga side Malaga in the summer and was tipped for big things. However, he hasn’t had the easiest start to life at St.Mary’s and has struggled to get into the side so far this season.

Ronald Koeman has placed this down to the fact that he has yet to adapt to the physicality of the English game as he is currently to ‘weak’ to play regular football in the Premier League and perform to the best of his ability.

It is clear to see that Juanmi has all the other attributes needed to play for Southampton; his touch, vision and finishing was there for all to see in pre-season. Yet, Koeman has said he will only start showing the fans his best form once he improves his strength.

We sign Juanmi as a new player, but he’s a young player. He’s 22 and he needs time and we know it’s a big difference about the tempo in the Premier League.

I don’t say the Premier League is stronger than the Spanish competition, but it’s different in tempo and physically what you need. That needs time.

We speak with Juanmi about that and sometimes I am the referee if we play a game on the pitch and I don’t whistle.

Ronald Koeman then spoke about not giving Juanmi fouls in training in an attempt to stop him from going down to easily on the ball.

I don’t whistle because sometimes he’s falling too easy. He needs to be stronger. That we are trying to develop.

It’s true (he doesn’t like my refereeing), because we have enough physical strong players and to show what happens in the game you need to change that.

Ronald Koeman also said he is convinced that Juanmi will make the grade at Southampton and that open communication between Juanmi and his manager will help this become a reality.

If you don’t say anything it’s difficult for the player, but if you keep contact, keep communication about what he needs to improve to get a chance it helps.

We are working hard with Juanmi to show him clips. Even last Sunday against Liverpool there was one action in the second half.

It’s still depending on how the player is acting, how he is accepting that, but he’s a very good, positive guy.

He didn’t understand English (at first) and it was difficult. You need time as a player and he gets that time, because finally he will be a very good player for Southampton.

Southampton face Aston Villa in the Capital One Cup tonight and Juanmi is expected to start.