Monday 25 May 2015 10:05, UK
We reflect on Southampton's amazing 2014/15 campaign, with stats, quotes and pundit views...
Southampton
Finishing position: 7th (+1 on last season)
Total points: 60 (+4 on last season)
FA Cup: Eliminated in fourth round by Crystal Palace
Capital One Cup: Eliminated in quarter-final by Sheffield United
Season review
Southampton defied all expectations. The Saints were tipped for a relegation battle after the summer exodus which followed last year’s eighth-placed finish, but their new-look side has performed brilliantly. Mauricio Pochettino, Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert and Calum Chambers all departed last summer, but Southampton recruited wisely, Ronald Koeman proved a shrewd appointment as manager and the critics were eating their words just a few weeks into the season.
Summer signings Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic took the Premier League by storm and Southampton won 11 of their first 14 games in all competitions – including a remarkable 8-0 thrashing of Sunderland at St Mary’s and a 2-1 win away to Arsenal in the Capital One Cup. After another victory over the Gunners on New Year’s Day, Southampton found themselves in fourth place, two points clear of Pochettino’s Spurs. There was a superb win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on January 11, but Koeman’s men were unable to match their consistency of the first half of the campaign.
The Champions League challenge faded, but their fans still had plenty to cheer, and their last game of the season at St Mary’s Stadium ended with a thumping 6-1 win over Aston Villa as Sadio Mane scored the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history. As long as Aston Villa don't win the FA Cup, Southampton's seventh-placed finish will secure Europa League qualification, and Koeman was picked as manager of the year by Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville in their Monday Night Football awards.
Matt Le Tissier’s star player: Ryan Bertrand
“It’s between two players for me. They’re both defenders as our defence has been the bedrock of the campaign. I’m torn between captain Jose Fonte and Ryan Betrand. Up to a month ago it would have been Fonte but Bertrand has been so consistent over the season that he edges it.”
Quotes of the season
“We have been in control of this whole process. A crisis would mean we are not in control” – Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger on the summer exodus
“6 years of an amazing journey #saintsfc DESTROYED in 1 hour !!!” – Morgan Schneiderlin on Twitter after he was told he wouldn’t be sold
"From the first day it has been a really fantastic feeling to be part of a big family, the connection with the fans is amazing. I think everyone is proud of Southampton's season” – Ronald Koeman
Stats of the season
- Sadio Mane broke Robbie Fowler’s Premier League record for the fastest hat-trick with his two minute and 56 second treble against Aston Villa
- Southampton kept 15 clean sheets in the Premier League this season – only West Brom and Chelsea kept more
- Eleven of Graziano Pelle's 12 Premier League goals came at St Mary's
Matt Le Tissier’s view
“Given that we were so heavily backed for relegation at the start of the season, a few bookies will be very happy with how Southampton have performed. It’s a phenomenal season, our highest ever Premier League finish, eclipsing Gordan Strachan’s team of 2002/03. It’s nothing sort of remarkable. It would be a massive shame if we were to finish seventh and miss out on the Europa League by Aston Villa winning the FA Cup as securing European football would represent an incredible achievement. Ronald Koeman has to be considered right up there with candidates for manager of the season.”
