Manchester City scored four past his team as Sekou Mara posted one in response, in a 4-1 defeat at St Mary’s this weekend. Saints have scored six goals in eight Premier League games under Selles, including a 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur before the last international break. Selles also started without a recognised number nine for the clash with City, which sees them remain bottom of the table and four points adrift with eight games to play. When speaking after the match, Selles was asked if his side will need to take their foot off the brakes and look to have more attacking intent if they are to win matches.
Ruben Selles said: “We always go on the front foot but we cannot go crazy on the front foot and open up spaces. Like today, for example, we can go high and apply the pressure – but if we are not organised we will never do it. We will still have the same approach really, we know we are competitive and know we can compete against anybody. So it is to take the same approach, to believe in what we are doing and to try and play with what we think is the correct thing. We know if we are a team that just kicks it long and goes for the second action we will go nowhere. We have been building an identity now for two months and we have a team in which you can recognise how Southampton wants to do things. That’s where we are, we need to be proud of what we do. I think we are, and the connections will be there and we will be competitive and get more points for sure.”
Saints return to action on Saturday, April 15 (3PM) when they welcome Crystal Palace, managed again by Roy Hodgson, to St Mary’s.
