Southampton striker Graziano Pelle has spoke about his relationship with manager Ronald Koeman and the influence of which the Dutchman has had on his career and how Pelle has improved under the Southampton boss.
In a recent interview, Pelle explained just why he seems to play so well under Ronald Koeman, as the forward has turned out an impressive goal record in his last three seasons at Feyenoord with Koeman and also during the pair’s spell at Southampton so far.
He gave me a lot of confidence, let me play also when probably I didn’t deserve to play because he knew I needed time after the period I was not playing that frequently. He gave me the good chance to be the main striker.
Pelle, 30, has scored 17 goals in 48 competitive appearance for The Saints, and for an ageing striker coming over from a less-demanding league; it is a very good return of goals that Pelle has served Southampton with.
The towering Italian striker admitted that when he joined Southampton, there was a new-found belief that he could finally earn a call up to the Italy National Team, even at the age of 30.
When I started to play well and then I came here, I thought: ‘I can be there.’ The national team trainer has given me the chance to play and I’ve done well most of the time. Now I try to keep a tight hold of the shirt in my hand. It is an amazing feeling.
How many goals do you think Pelle will score this season for Southampton?
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