SOUTHAMPTON manager Ronald Koeman has said he is already looking to try and improve on a successful first season in charge of the club.
The Dutchman has been a revelation since arriving at St Mary’s last June, steadying the ship after the Saints’ lost six of their first choice starting eleven in the transfer window.
But after reinvesting most of the £95million poundsvbrought in through sales last summer, Koeman led his new-look squad to the Saints’ best ever Premier League position; with the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City meaning they eventually finished seventh after an unlikely Champions League bid came unstuck in February.
And with the possibility of Europa League football at St Mary's next season if Arsenal win the FA Cup Final next weekend, Koeman has said he is looking forward to building on his first year in England.
“We know,” said Koeman, “what we did this season, in this season, was the maximum.
“It will be difficult next season, the expectation will be higher, but we can be proud about this season of Southampton.”
“It was that quality you saw today in some actions that is really top quality and we have to improve to do it better than we did this season.
Southampton are likely to again lose important players like Morgan Schneiderlin, who has been heavily linked with Arsenal and Juventus, but the general feeling is that there won’t be as stormy an off season as last summer.
With the success that Koeman has brought this season, the former Feyenoord boss knows that with the success will come added expectation.
He said: “It is very difficult to get better because you get always a reaction from the bigger teams. But still, we believe in our qualities and the philosophy the club wants to bring.
“We try to bring young players in and play good football. If it’s the seventh or the eighth or the ninth position, it’s not all about position in the table.
“We had a great season and we try to do it again for the next one.”