In four games' time, Southampton could be a Premier League club once again.
And if they win their FA Cup semi-final game on Saturday, they are just one step from a major trophy and Europa League qualification in turn.
That’s the multitude of what lies ahead for the Saints, as they close in on an end to the season to remember, and fan favourite Leo Scienza just reflected every fan’s thoughts in a social media post.
Scienza echoes everybody’s thoughts
Scienza shared his thoughts on Instagram following Southampton’s 2-1 win over Swansea City, saying, ‘What a time to be a Saint. Great energy and belief from the team. 19 games unbeaten and we keep on going. Very happy and proud to reach double figures in the season.’
And what a time to be a Saint it really is. The whole Southampton squad is stepping up when all hope looked lost at the start of the season. As well as Scienza, players who previously looked like broken records are starting to contribute now that it really matters.
Scienza is the first Southampton midfielder to register 10+ league assists in a single season since Dusan Tadic in 2015/16. He needs just two more to level Tadic’s record, and three to beat it.
If the Saints can reach the Premier League, Scienza will undoubtedly be able to step up - but they must get there first.
Fans must be the twelfth man
With four games left on the fixture list, Southampton know they must win them all to be in with a shout of automatic promotion and an FA Cup trophy win.
All the Saints need in favour league-wise is for Millwall to drop points - just once, then Ipswich to do the same outside of their game against the Saints.
Then, if Southampton beat Bristol City, Ipswich, and Preston North End, two of whom have nothing to play for, a Premier League return awaits.
An end-of-season run doesn’t often come with much higher stakes than this, and it would be the ultimate way to seal retribution for a poor start to the campaign under Will Still.
There really is no better time to be a Saint, as Leo Scienza said. If the St Mary’s crowd gets behind them in the final games, as well as coming up with the goods at Wembley, where crowd-wise they are set to dominate, that could be enough to get them over the line.
Tonda Eckert’s Saints now stride towards their toughest ask yet - but a nineteen-game unbeaten run and seven-match win streak until now suggests it really can be done.
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