Jack Stephens
Southampton captain Jack Stephens has expressed his enthusiasm for working with the club’s new coach, Will Still, as the Saints aim to make a swift return to the Premier League. Still, a 32-year-old Belgian-born Englishman, has signed a three-year contract with Southampton and was present at their final Premier League game of the season. The match provided a brief opportunity for Still to meet his new players, but Stephens believes the real work will begin when pre-season training kicks off.
Jack Stephens said: “I am very excited. Will Still in attendance for Saints vs Arsenal at St Mary’s. We’re all really excited for the next chapter and moving to next season, and trying to hit the ground running. I’ve not spoken with him much yet. It happened fairly quickly, and we wanted to focus on the final game and finishing the season as well as we could. I think now that today the season is out of the way, we can start to focus on next year. I’m looking forward to it.”
Stephens missed the final game of the season, a narrow 2-1 home defeat to Arsenal, due to a fractured wrist sustained in training. Despite this setback, the Southampton captain is hopeful of returning in time for pre-season, having been given a recovery timeline of four to six weeks. The 31-year-old, who remains under contract at St Mary’s for another season, made 19 Premier League appearances this past season, scoring once.
Reflecting on the season, Stephens acknowledged the challenges faced by the team, emphasizing the need to improve as they prepare for the upcoming campaign. He also shared a poignant memory with Southampton’s youngsters Jay Robinson and Jayden Moore, recalling it as one of the proudest moments of his career.
Stephens added: “The memories of that day are incredible. It’s something that I will treasure, but also look back on as, probably, the proudest moment of my career. (Doing that again) has to be the aim. We weren’t good enough as players this season. We got promoted together and now we’ve been relegated together.”
As Southampton looks ahead to the next chapter under Will Still’s guidance, the club’s focus will be on rebuilding and aiming for promotion back to the Premier League. The pre-season period will be crucial for Still to establish his philosophy and tactics with the squad, setting the tone for the challenges that lie ahead.
About The Author
