Kyle Walker Peters
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories – #KyleWalkerPeters reveals how #DeleAlli is helping him with preparation for new season #SaintsFC #THFC

August 4, 2021
KYLE Walker-Peters revealed he was feeling ready for the rigours of a new Premier League season – thanks to some intense warm-weather work alongside close pal Dele Alli. The Saints full-back had been getting himself prepared alongside his former Spurs team-mate to return to pre-season – the pair putting themselves through their paces in both Dubai and Portugal during the off season. Walker-Peters and Alli trained at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex while in Dubai and the Saints man said it was a boost to have someone on hand to spur him on. He told the Daily Echo: “I was in Dubai and Portugal with Dele. It was tough but really enjoyable as well. “We trained at NAS Centre (in Dubai) – the Crown Prince’s gym, which was nice. The facilities were great. “We just worked on our fitness, worked on a few techniques and it was great to do. “It makes a huge difference, you know? Sometimes you might wake up and not really want to do it but when you’ve got your mate next to you saying ‘come on, we’ve got to go’ or vice-versa, it does help. “Being on the pitch with your friend, there’s nothing better, so it’s a big help.” Edmonton-born Walker-Peters played just less than 30 minutes when Saints beat Cardiff City 4-0 in a friendly last week. He started and featured for an hour before being replaced by Yan Valery in Saturday’s 3-1 triumph over Swansea City. Assessing the victory over the Swans, Walker-Peters said: “I thought we stuck to the task really well. “We have changed our style a bit and we are still working on it but I thought on Saturday we looked really good using that style and hopefully we kick on from here. “In my instance, there’s a few different things I need to do that the gaffer’s asked me to do. I am starting to feel more and more comfortable doing those things and I think they showed.” He added: “I feel great. During the off season I was working really hard to maintain my fitness. “I did give myself a rest but I worked really hard on bettering myself physically. I feel ready but there are two more games to go. “We are just going to keep trying to improve those tactics, keep getting sharper on the ball and hopefully go into the season really strong.” Walker-Peters is expected to feature when Saints host La Liga outfits Levante and Athletic Bilbao in pre-season friendlies this week.
Tino Livramento
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories – #TinoLivramento reveals role of #RalphHasenhuttl while signing for Southampton #SaintsFC

August 4, 2021
SAINTS’ most recent summer signing Tino Livramento has revealed that manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was highly persuasive in getting him to switch Chelsea, admitting “the passion that he shows, I just can’t wait to get started.” As with any footballing opinion, fans may vary on what they believe Austrian boss Hasenhuttl brings to the table and the future that the club holds under him – but Livramento is absolutely clear. The 18-year-old right-sided player has been with the Blues since the start of his footballing development but has followed fellow academy youngster Dynel Simeu and made the south-coast switch. Having won the academy’s Player of the Year award back in May, Livramento would be following in the footsteps of previous winners such as Mason Mount and Reece James – who have become England internationals and Champions League winners while at Chelsea. Read more Who is Saints' new signing ex-Chelsea Tino Livramento? Ralph Hasenhuttl: Tino Livramento made a very good choice Former Saint Jake Hesketh joins Eastleigh FC But Livramento has insisted he “can’t wait to get started” at Saints and has named Hasenhuttl as a driving force in his decision. He told the club: “The manager was quite a big factor as to why I wanted to come here, the passion that he shows, I just can’t wait to get started. “He wanted to tell me a lot, he wants to tell me a lot about how he wants me to come in and train, how he wants me to play, what he wants me to bring to the team. “That was really attractive to me to see him expressing those emotions. Showing how he sees me playing in a Premier League team, which is really big for me being 18 – it was a really good conversation. “You do need to be good defensively and Ralph said he sees that’s an area he can help me improve, I believe with his help that’s what I can bring to the table as well, a good defensive right-back.” When asked about what he sees in Saints as a club, he was equally complimentary. He added: “It’s a talented group but I know what I can add to it, as I say I can’t wait to get started. “They are now an established Premier League team, they’ve always been notorious for bringing through youth payers, you look at your Gareth Bale’s, Theo Walcott is obviously back at the club now. “It’s a healthy environment for me to come and grow. “I never wanted to be tied down to a huge deal and then not get a lot of first-team opportunities, I felt like this was the best place to come and test myself. If Southampton comes in for you and you’re 18, there’s not many people that would turn that down.”
Tino Lavramento
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories – #TinoLavramento joins Saints and reveals reason for joining them #SaintsFC

August 3, 2021
NEW Saints acquisition Tino Lavramento tells how he had transfer options but insists “to choose Southampton was sort of a no-brainer.” The 18-year-old dynamic defender departs Chelsea with a big reputation in search of first team football, joining south-coast Saints on a five-year contract. He featured heavily in Premier League 2 last season for the Blues’ under-23s, contributing goals and assists up the other end, and follows in the footsteps of Dynel Simeu who joined the club from Cobham in July. Speaking to the club website, number 21 Lavramento said: “I've been discussing with my dad about what we thought was best for my future. We felt like this was the right time for it to happen and for me to move on. “To have interest from a few top clubs, to choose Southampton was sort of a no-brainer. They are a solid Premier League club and the manager was quite a big factor as to why I wanted to come here and why I wanted to play for Southampton.” Reports suggested he was linked to the likes of Red Bull Leipzig, AC Milan and Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. He’s yet to make a senior appearance in his young career but did impress enough to make the bench in the league back in May, when Chelsea played Manchester City and Arsenal.