Last night saw Southampton conclude their three pre-season games for the month of July, with only two games left before the start of the Premier League season.
Over the past month the Saints have enjoyed two pre-season camps either side of a trip to London, with steadily improved results. A host of young players got to display their abilities whilst there was one notable omission from the club’s final trip abroad.
St. Gallen
With Mauricio Pellegrino at the helm, Southampton enjoyed a pre-season camp in the picturesque Austria, having named a 28-man squad which included a host of youngsters ranging from Alfie Jones to Nathan Tella.
The week’s hard work concluded with a friendly against the Austrian side, which featured the aforementioned duo and Jake Flannigan.
Southampton drew the game against St. Gallen 0-0, with most players hoping to improve their fitness after the extended break over June.
However some players still impressed, with Pellegrino varying between one and two-striker set-ups over the course of the game.
Brentford
After the goalless encounter in Austria, Southampton returned back to familiar turf ahead of an encounter with Championship side Brentford. It was the first time the Saints would’ve played the Bees in a friendly since 2011.
The game at Griffin Park saw the first goals of the Pellegrino era, with Charlie Austin finding the net on both occasions, with the brace coming in an eight-minute rally. The game also featured a first Southampton start for new signing Jan Bednarek.
However a Fraser Forster blunder at the other end meant the game ended in a draw, however the Argentinian boss was still positive after the match.
The game also raised money for the Grenfell Tower fund, with a fee of around £23,000 made from the sell-out friendly.
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Saint-Etienne
Southampton finished the month of July with another pre-season camp, this time in France ahead of a friendly with Saint-Etienne on the Saturday.
However the trip was overshadowed by the exclusion of Virgil van Dijk. Pellegrino confirmed a few days prior that the team captain had asked to leave the club, 12 months after signing a six-year deal on the south coast.
Irregardless, the rest of the squad spent the week in France, before recording their first win under Pellegrino at the weekend.
The final result was 3-0, with Manolo Gabbiadini, James Ward-Prowse and Maya Yoshida all finding the back of the net.
The game also saw Charlie Austin and Manolo Gabbiadini start together, something the supporters never saw under Claude Puel. What’s more, Southampton’s resident Young Lions all returned after extended breaks.
Southampton also played some exciting and fast-paced football – particularly for the opening goal. This was something the fans have been crying out for, after a season of Puel’s slower, patience style of play.
The Saints now have two more pre-season friendlies before the season opener against Swansea. Both will be played at St. Mary’s, with the opponents being FC Augsburg and Sevilla respectively.