Ronald Koeman says he is not bothered about the reception the ex-Saints players get
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has revealed that he is not concerning himself with the kind of reception Liverpool’s trio of ex-Saints players will get when the two sides meet on Sunday, reports BT Sport.
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Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren will all be making their first returns to the south coast since their summer moves away from St. Mary’s, but the Dutchman is not worried about the fans’ reactions.
“It is Southampton against Liverpool, not Southampton against some players who played last season for Southampton,” Koeman said.
While Lambert and Lovren featured when the two sides previously met on the opening day of the season, it will be ex-captain Lallana’s first game against his former club, and the midfielder has previously spoken of his regret over how his time with the Saints ended.
Southampton were tipped for relegation at the start of the season following the exodus of first team regulars from the previous campaign, but Koeman has amazingly helped to lift the club into Champions League contention, and the 51-year-old suggested that their strength is evident throughout the Premier League.
“I don’t talk about players who are coming back to the club where they played last season, because then I can talk every week about a player who comes back to Southampton,” he added.