Yoshida predicted last night’s goal

Southampton’s Japanese defender Maya Yoshida has claimed that he spoke with Jose Fonte and Dusan Tadic in the build-up to last night’s game predicting that he would score a goal after a one-two with Graziano Pelle or Gaston Ramirez.

Southampton beat Aston Villa 2-1 last night and Maya Yoshida opened the scoring with a superb low left-footed drive from distance.

His prediction was bang on the money as he slipped the ball into Gaston Ramirez, who laid the ball back superbly for Maya Yoshida to run onto and fire Southampton into the lead from outside the box.

It was not your typical Maya Yoshida goal, with most of his Southampton goals coming inside the area, from headers, albeit Maya Yoshida not having scored many goals for Southampton.

After the game, Maya Yoshida admitted that he had been talking to Dusan Tadic and Jose Fonte, both on the bench at the start of play, and revealed that they were pushing him to try to get forward from right back and score a goal; which he did.

I was speaking to José and Dušan about I [could] score with a one-two with Gastón or Graziano,” he said.

That’s why I had some image about the shooting. Honestly, Gastón passed me a great ball and Graziano’s movement is really good [to open up space].

That’s why I go with Dušan and after that celebrate with José.

Maya Yoshida is a centre back by trade but the goalscorer from last night is happy to play wherever he is needed.

We knew it was a very big opportunity for all the substitutes to show who am I.

I knew it was a really important game for me. Also I’m trying to find another chance to play as a right back, maybe left back.

It’s not easy to get to play for another position, but if I play like today it would be nice.

Southampton have drawn Liverpool at home in the quarter-finals. Are you happy with the draw?