Kyle Walker Peters
Walker-Peters himself faces an uncertain future at St Mary’s following relegation from the Premier League with a number of top-flight clubs looking at him.
The 26 year old will likely depart after three and a half years on the south coast, during which he earned two England caps back in March last year.
Saints are looking to appoint Swansea City boss Russell Martin to replace the outgoing Ruben Selles and remain confident of doing so despite a compensation-related delay.
Walker-Peters spoke exclusively with the Daily Echo ahead of the final game of the season and was asked what a new man in the hot seat will have to do to help the club bounce back from relegation.
Kyle Walker-Peters said: “I think it will be important for him to really have an identity. How you’re playing to chop and change every week with a young squad is quite hard. They’re already young and learning how tough it is to play in the Premier League, to play in the Championship next season. And if you’re changing style every week, it’s even harder. So I think, yeah, whoever the new manager is will need to ensure that he has an identity and tries to build some consistency from it. I think there’s going to be a lot of changes within the club, so I’m not really sure what the vision is as a player but I can assume their main focus will be to get back into the Premier League. I try not to read into any rumours. I try to stay away from that and what’s going on over on Twitter, and I think the club will inform us when they’re ready.”
Martin has been managing in the Championship over the past two seasons and Walker-Peters admits he does know a few fellow players who have worked under him.
Kyle Walker-Peters said: “I believe he’s a coach that likes to have the ball. He’s really focused on possession and he’s used to the Championship, so I’m sure he’ll be able to help the squad if he does end up coming here. Other than that, I don’t know too much about him. I know he was recently a player so he’ll know how a lot of the players in the team are feeling. And I think if that’s who the club wants to take the job, I’m sure he’ll be the right man.”
Like teammate and club captain James Ward-Prowse, who was open about how much he enjoyed working for the Spaniard, Walker-Peters sympathises with the departing Selles. Although he was just returning from injury in Selles’s first two matches as boss, Walker-Peters played every minute bar one of the final 14 games of the season.
Kyle Walker-Peters said: “I think Ruben was put into a position which was really tough, but he took the job and he’s given us absolutely everything to try and help us stay up. It will be really sad to see him go. I think I’ve said in a few meetings before, from the first session he took with me, I knew how good a coach he was. I knew how determined he was to succeed at Southampton. Really disappointed for him. I’m disappointed that I won’t be working with him next season.”
Walker-Peters probably does not know who he will be working with at all next season – it is difficult to guess where he might end up beyond St Mary’s. The versatile full-back can play in most managers’ systems and would improve most squads either as a starter or backup. Although he cannot disclose anything more, he is honest about his ambitions.
Kyle Walker Peters said: “It’s tough for me to say right now but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I want to be playing in the Premier League. I want to get an opportunity to represent my country again. That’s a really big goal of mine, so yeah, those are my personal goals – but the most important thing is giving fans something to cheer about (in their final game vs Liverpool, which finished 4-4).”
