---
title: "Cup tie affected my thinking – Koeman"
canonical: "https://readsouthampton.com/2015/10/31/cup-tie-affected-thinking-koeman/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jacob Sinkins"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2015-10-31T11:50:51Z"
modified: "2015-10-31T11:50:51Z"
---

# Cup tie affected my thinking – Koeman

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has admitted that the performances of fringe players in the Capital One Cup has led him to re-think his squad selection.

[In his press conference](https://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20151030-ronald-koeman-pre-southampton-afc-bournemouth-3-2774832.aspx) ahead of the weekends clash with South-Coast rivals AFC Bournemouth, Koeman said that his ‘Best XI’ will start on Sunday, but has said that the competition has given him a lot to think about.

Southampton dispatched bottom of the table Aston Villa in midweek to reach the quarter finals of the League Cup, where they will face a home tie with Liverpool, who beat the weekend’s rivals 1-0 in the last round.

> What we saw \[on Wednesday\] was that we have a lot of competition in our squad, which you like to have as a manager.

Bournemouth currently sit 17th in the Premier League, with the new boys having a woeful start to the campaign. Batterings 5-1 by Manchester City and Spurs respectively have led them to have a goal difference of -10.

Southampton, meanwhile, sit eighth, with a good start to the season giving them a comfortable 14 points.