Saints chill out in Swiss Alps, Latest Football News - The New Paper
Football

Saints chill out in Swiss Alps

Ronald Koeman and his Southampton stars will hope their chase for a European spot will not leave them on their backsides, as was the case on Thursday.

With no FA Cup commitments and an 11-day break before their encounter with Premiership leaders Chelsea next Sunday, the Saints’ manager took his troops on a three-day football-free trip to the Swiss Alps.

As part of the itinerary, Koeman and his players donned ice hockey gear and took to the ice in an effort to foster team  spirit. 

Said the manager: “It’s a team-building trip. We will stay together, we will do some different activities and it’s good for the health and good for the body.

“They will have some free time to do what they want and that will be good for us until Saturday.”

The Dutch boss recognised the enormity of the task ahead, as his sixth-placed side are four points adrift of Manchester United, who are on 53 and occupying the last Champions League qualifying spot.

He said: “It’s a big achievement what we have done until now.

“There are still 10 games left and we know we will fight until the last second to keep the highest position in the table that is possible.”

The real achievement was that none of the stumbling Saints was injured during their ice hockey exertions, with Ryan Bertrand and Eljero Elia even managing to find the net. 

Source: metro.co.uk, mail online, YouTube

eplSouthamptonUncategorisedHockey