Southampton manager Ronald Koeman tries to restrict his players' use of phones

Ronald Koeman says his Southampton players are given regular communication exercises because he wants them to talk more during matches.

The Saints boss thinks that players' reliance on mobile phones away from the football field can lead to poor communication on the pitch.

And, ahead of Saturday's trip to Everton, Koeman spoke at length about the importance of the weekly exercises.

"The players need to communicate more than what they are doing, and that's all about the telephones, and the headphones," he said.

"We don't put them in a room and make them talk, but we do some exercises every week to help with communication on the pitch. This is the most important, it can be better.

"It needs to be natural, and for some it isn't. It needs time. If you see our third goal against Newcastle, Sadio (Mane) goes right and three Newcastle defenders go right.

"How is that possible? It's because they don't talk. If they communicate properly, one can take the left and one can take the right.

"We like to support communication and it's not natural for young players anymore. They don't talk, everybody is in his own world.

"If I have dinner with my kids, we say put the telephones together and we talk. If not, they use them.

"In football, what I see, in other teams, and what I saw in Holland, is they need to talk more on the pitch.

"We have rules in the team on phones. If we stay together, we don't use them. If you do, you leave the team. 

"One of the reasons I am the manager is to improve my team and players, and that aspect we need to improve."

Koeman's methods appear to be working well because he has supervised another impressive campaign at Southampton.

The Saints are seventh ahead of Saturday's fixture and the Dutch boss is not concerned about the fact he has yet to sign a contract extension.

"Still I have one more year of contract," he said. "We will see what happens.

"I work for the club and, when they come, I will have a talk. Let's finish well this season and there is time enough for discussion."