---
title: "Yoshida urges Saints teammates to show their character"
canonical: "https://readsouthampton.com/2017/10/17/yoshida-urges-saints-teammates-to-show-their-character/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "James Browning"
section: "News"
published: "2017-10-17T11:44:24Z"
modified: "2017-10-17T11:44:24Z"
---

# Yoshida urges Saints teammates to show their character

Southampton centre-back Maya Yoshida has issued a call to arms for his team-mates and insisted that the side need to both improve and pick up points in the next few weeks ahead of what is certainly a daunting festive schedule for the Saints.

Speaking after the south coast side snatched a draw against Newcastle United at the weekend, Yoshida said (via the [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-4986912/Yoshida-Southampton-pick-points-December.html)):

> Fortunately we have another home game coming up next week to make amends, this period between now and the next international break is very important

![Clive Rose/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.cohttps//media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2017/10/861637094.jpg)

> We need to pick up points now because December holds some very difficult fixtures for us.

The Saints’ December schedule is as follows:

- Bournemouth (A)
- Arsenal (H)
- Leicester City (H)
- Chelsea (A)
- Huddersfield (H)
- Tottenham Hotspur (A)
- Manchester United (A)

![Jan Kruger/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.cohttps//media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2017/10/855901936.jpg)

That group of games is preceded by an away trip to Manchester City to round off November’s fixtures — so Yoshida is right in saying that the next few weeks are very important. He continued:

> West Brom \[their next opponents\] are a strong side and consistently in the top half of the table. It’s a big opportunity for us to show our character

Southampton are currently 11th in the league with nine points from eight games — just three points away from the relegation zone and already six points away from fourth place, so a good run is certainly needed to propel the side towards a more ambitious finish come the end of the season.