However, the Saints are adamant that they are not willing to sell any players this summer, with Ronald Koeman insisting that he is hopeful of keeping hold of all his players this summer after losing a major chunk to Liverpool last season.
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“We believe that we are strong and we’re coming here to win“. “I hope we have everybody available on Thursday, including Sadio”.
Minnows Midtjylland grabbed a crucial away goal to leave Southampton’s European hopes hanging by a thread after the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw.
“[I had no doubts], speculation doesn’t make me change my team”, Koeman added, according to BT Sport.
A main factor previous year was their solid defence, conceding just 33 goals, second fewest to champions Chelsea, but they are yet to win in three league games this term, having shipped five goals. “We go to their place confident we can get the result we want“.
Southampton will check on the fitness of winger Sadio Mane, who sustained a hip injury at Watford. Koeman, who made a tactical switch before the game to play with three defenders, was rewarded with a solid display at the back from his side.
“We have to wait”, said the manager. We had good organisation compared to before.
“It’s too soon”, said the Dutchman. The trip to Denmark should offer some clues as to whether the answers from the class of 2015 will be as emphatic as those given by the players who defied their doubters so spectacularly to finish seventh in the Premier League and for large spells flirted with gate-crashing the top-four.
“We did the system a little bit different, but it gave us confidence”. It will come, it takes time.
Twice he put unsafe crosses into the Southampton box, but no-one got on the end of the first chance and Odion Ighalo failed to apply a decisive touch to the second. “If he is 100 per cent then he will be sure he will be one of the targets for the national team”.
“There were times in my injury period that were really hard”.
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If you’re looking for an option in the To Score market, it’s worth bearing in mind that Midtjylland looked a touch vulnerable at set-pieces last Thursday, so aerial threats such as Graziano Pelle [2.8] and Steven Caulker [9.5] are worth considering (Sportsbook prices).
