Future of Southampton manager Claude Puel remains uncertain

Claude Puel’s future as Southampton manager remains uncertain ahead of the club’s end-of-the-season review next week, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The Frenchman took over from Everton-bound Ronald Koeman in the summer and looks set to lead the side to another top-half finish in the Premier League, their fourth in succession.

And a sensational run to the League Cup final, in which they beat Arsenal and Liverpool before cruelly succumbing to Manchester United at Wembley, suggests that the former Nice boss has done well in his first season at St Mary’s, but he has come under-fire from some supporters given the team’s negative style of play this term.

And whether Puel will take charge of the South Coast outfit next season still remains to be seen ahead of their end-of-the-season review, due to take place next week following their final two clashes against Manchester United this evening, and then Stoke City on Sunday.

Chairman Ralph Krueger has refused to rule anything out, telling The Telegraph: ‘We have two huge games ahead of us.

‘I think all of that should be properly debriefed, analysed next week and then we need to move with whatever is best for the club at that point.

‘We want everybody to be really focussed on finishing strong.’

It is expected that a decision on Puel’s future will be made at some stage next week, but before then the Saints will be hoping to finish the season strongly with victories in their final two games.

Puel’s side host Jose Mourinho’s United tonight knowing that a win would all but secure a top ten finish in the Premier League, and it may even go some way to securing Puel’s future at the club.