If there’s one thing Southampton are becoming well known for in their recent Premier League stalwarts era then it’s well and truly defying the odds.
A club that goes through managers in a manner that would make Chelsea blush and has sold more players than Manchester City have bought and yet somehow has become a bastion of consistency and reliability whereby top ten finishes aren’t so much achieved as almost guaranteed.
This season has been another odds defying endeavour with relegation not even a consideration and a cup final appearance thrown in to boot.
Part of Southampton’s success has been down to the performances of captain Virgil van Dijk who was something of a colussus until injury ended his season.
Manager Claude Puel – who’s the subject of speculation himself – has insisted the former Celtic defender is going nowhere despite interest from the likes of Manchester City and perennial Saints raiders Liverpool.
Puel noted: “He [Van Dijk] has a long contract and of course the directors will want to keep him.”
Here’s how Southampton fans have been reacting to the manager’s comments.
Southampton boss Claude Puel says the club do not want to sell captain Virgil van Dijk.https://t.co/3GAHgOiMyV pic.twitter.com/rbImjRdyAF
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 8, 2017
@BBCSport Literally means nothing
— Ben Moore (@BenMoore2001) May 8, 2017
@BBCSport Is that ‘we dont want to sell’ or ‘we wont sell’??
— Badger Bob (@badgerbob2015) May 8, 2017
@BBCSport I want to win the lottery and Tottenham want to win the league, but somethings we all know won’t happen.
— Le God (@DanLeGod) May 8, 2017
@BBCSport I’m sure they didn’t want to sell Mane, Lallana, Lovren, Bale, Walcott, etc, etc either!
— Danny Porter (@djdannyp86) May 8, 2017
@djdannyp86 @BBCSport Had no choice but to sell Walcott & bale due to our finaces. Lovren was a great sale. Miss Lallana & Mane though.
— Adam (@Ajthundersticks) May 8, 2017
@FreshSaints And pigs might fly .
— Colin Joy (@Wessexcol) May 8, 2017