After picking up just two points from the opening four league games, a 3-0 win over Sparta Prague on the first Europa League group stage game of the season was the spark for Saints to go on a fantastic run which saw them enter the top eight of the league, get close to a place in the Europa League knockout stages, and book a place in the EFL Cup quarter-final.
However, after a league defeat away to Hull last weekend and tough fixtures over the dreaded winter period – for players, that is – that cemented place in the Premier League’s top half seems like it may be crumbling.
Southampton can qualify for the Europa League’s knockout phase with one game left fairly easily, guaranteed they get a result in Prague and the game with Hapoel and Inter goes their way. In fact, Saints just need to pick up more points than Hapoel Be’er Sheva to qualify who have a tricky test against Inter Milan to worry about.
When the club appointed Claude Puel in the summer, they were appointing a manager who was very experienced in Europe but was completely new to the Premier League. I don’t see why Southampton shouldn’t follow that decision.
Remember Fulham’s Europa League run in the 2009/10 season? Yes it was a while ago now but google it if you don’t know what I’m on about. They didn’t expect or were expected to do much in the competition but as soon as they had over achieved by reaching the knockout stages, doubters gave them enough confidence to famously knock out Juventus and reach the final, only to lose in extra-time to Atletico Madrid.
I’m not saying that we are thinking about winning the title or even reaching the final, but my point is that we have a handful of players and of course the manager with plenty of European experience. Liverpool decided to prioritise the Europa League last season and should’ve won it, but finished eighth in the league and now have no European competition.
Playing in Europe is something that the fans want to savour, and there is a great chance of beating the odds. Look at Wales in this summer’s Euro’s; they weren’t expected to do much but they reached the semi-finals. That’s what Southampton can do but there has to be a prioritised competition.
