Ronald Koeman : Now total focus is to the Premier League

About the 3-2 defeat to Palace
For the fans maybe [it was entertaining] because after 22 minutes it was 2-2, but too much mistakes. If I talk about defensive organisation, normally one of the strengths of the team, but not today.
They were not working together, there was too much space in the positions defending. They punished us to score three times and maybe to miss another two goals and that was the problem the first 45 minutes.

We controlled it a little bit but defensively very poor. You can’t defend like that with the qualities what they have in front, the confidence they have.
Second half was much better but not good enough to score more and score the draw at least. A bad first half defensively was why we lost.

About Shane Long’s injury
I spoke to the doctor and he thought he will have fractured one or two ribs and that’s very painful. It’s a pity because we don’t have that number of players to go with all the injuries that we have. Normally it will be three, four or five weeks.

About Transfer Window
We have one week and we will think about it. We know our situation, we know about the players who are injured and when they come back, but when you look to the bench, there is Shane and the rest under-21s, so that’s difficult.

I like to have a squad to go with what we are doing until now. We know maybe for one game we can change and bring in young players but not until the end of the season. Normally, the players will come back in for two or three weeks.

About the defensive change at half-time
Florin [Gardos] was not playing good and in the first minute of the game he did a mistake and I think that is all about concentration. It was not only Florin, but the whole team working in defending.

I think in the second half I put Ryan [Bertrand] in that position at least in our ball possession we have a left-back in that position and that was much better.

About injuries
That’s part of football. We knew before the season if we got this kind of number of injured players then we will get problems, that’s normal.

Still, we are third in the league and I am not worried about that, I am worried about what we showed in defence in the first 45 minutes.

About another big teams that losing too
Everybody will say the same. It’s a pity because the big ones are out of the FA Cup and you know it’s difficult to beat every team, not about the level because everybody is fighting to win games in the FA Cup.

It was a difficult one, we knew it before. Crystal Palace are doing well with a new manager and they punished the mistakes we did in the first 45 minutes. Now total focus is to the Premier League.

saintsfc.co.uk

Ronald Koeman : What We Get We Deserve

About the Game
I am very happy and very proud of everybody. It was a long week, a difficult week with three away games. If you win games that gives players confidence, that gives players spirit what you need to win against Newcastle away.

In my opinion everybody was proud after the win last week against Manchester United because that’s history, that’s a great place to win. It was a long time ago. I think as a manager the win against Newcastle was better.

It was the third game this week, we have some injuries, but we keep that spirit and that belief. We didn’t start the game well. We lost some stupid balls in the beginning.
The 1-0 gave us a lot of confidence. The team was looking very comfortable. It was unlucky, the 1-1. We did it by ourselves. The second half was more difficult.

I think Newcastle was a little bit the dominant team at that point and we scored a great goal and after that we had good organisation and defended well.
Maybe one or two situations about handball, they told me, I don’t know. I didn’t see it so maybe yes, maybe no. I am very happy about the three points.

About the Squad
I think the difference is that we have young players, we have young, talented players. The team is playing out of a good organisation and for them that is a help.
If they get the opportunity, they play well, they have confidence and we have confidence in the young players. It’s not difficult then for them, because the team is confident and is playing out of a good organisation. Then it’s more easy to come into the team.

Of course, the win against Manchester United, the win against Ipswich gave the players confidence and they showed that.
We didn’t steal any points. What we get we deserved.

saintsfc.co.uk

Ronald Koeman : Thanked the Fans for Their Support Over Last Week

“It was a third win in one week, three away games, and the support of the fans, that distance from Southampton was great,”

“Always it is important to have the fans as a background. They believe in the team, they support the team and that is a great feeling after the whistle when you win the game.“

“I’m happy for them. It’s a long trip back but if you win games they will not be tired, they are happy to have the trip back, that’s the best for them.”

saintsfc.co.uk

Ronald Koeman : About His Proud to His Players after Beating MU at Old Trafford

“It’s fantastic for the fans that we won,”
“I’m proud of the players, I’m proud of the club because this is a fantastic result for the club and for the fans. Winning at Old Trafford is not for everyone."

“It’s a long time ago [that Saints last won at Old Trafford]. I think we played out of fantastic organisation. The best chances they had were in the last ten minutes with [Marouane] Fellaini in front."

“They played long balls and it’s always difficult to defend that but the players showed an unbelievable spirit. They had the belief in a good result and I think that was the most important thing."

“They didn’t create a lot. Little by little we had more control of the game. Of course, in the last few moments we were lucky but remember the first game at home – that gave us the luck to win this game."

“That game was the inspiration today. One reason we know we can beat them, then you have to show the belief in beating teams like Manchester United, that was the key.”

About Dusan Tadic as a Subs
“It’s always a difficult decision for the manager,”
“Because he’s a fantastic player, but the tactical organisation of the team is more important than one player."
“You hope the player will respond when he comes in and he did that. He made the difference in the last 20-25 minutes of the game.”

About Position in League
“If we keep our spirit and our belief we can continue. It’s not only one win against United, we showed that in more games."
“The players have a fantastic attitude. If we keep that ambition, you never know."

saintsfc.co.uk