Ronald Koeman says he’s happy pre-season training is under way – even if the majority of his players are still on holiday.
Those who have been involved in international action since the end of the 2014/15 campaign have been given an extra week off, so only nine first-teamers reported for duty this morning.
The likes of Jay Rodriguez, Morgan Schneiderlin and returning loanee Gastón Ramírez were joined by members of the Under-21 squad, with Koeman hoping one of the club’s youngsters could catch his eye before Saints head to Austria next week.
“I look always positive because the international players need three weeks of holiday and for them that means they have to be present next Monday,” he told the club’s official YouTube channel.
“[This gives] opportunities and space to young players – it’s part of the philosophy of the club and part of my philosophy that you give opportunities to young players because they can show their qualities.
“Maybe it will be one player who surprises everyone and he will stay in the first team. You never know.
“We make a big group – we have 18/19 players and three goalkeepers. We have a good group to start the season and to train as we like to do.
“Next week, some under-21 players will stay with the under-21s because we get a lot of international players back and then we go to Austria – that will be the second week of the pre-season.”
Watch the full interview with Koeman via youtube.com/southamptonfc here:
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