Southampton manager Claude Puel defends squad rotation against West Brom
Sunday 1 January 2017 10:26, UK
Claude Puel defended his decision to make changes to his team after seeing Southampton lost 2-1 at home to West Brom.
The Frenchman made six alterations to the side which lost 4-1 at St Mary's against Tottenham on Wednesday and saw his latest selection go a goal up through Shane Long.
West Brom came back, however, and in doing so inflicted consecutive home Premier League losses on the south coast club for the first time in more than two years.
With a busy festive schedule which now sees Southampton play again at Everton on Monday afternoon, Puel maintains he was right to rotate so much.
He said: "We had to play three games in six days and the next one is in just two days. It is not possible to play all the games [with the same team].
"It's important to keep a good attitude and stay strong in our heads and make sure there is a good reaction in the next game.
"I know it's difficult but there are other teams in the same situation and it's a good thing to see the capacity and the reaction of the squad.
"There are young players and it is a young squad. At the moment it is difficult but we have got to pass this moment together with strong spirit."
Puel thinks there were parallels to be drawn with the defeat to Tottenham. In that match, Southampton also went in front before losing and having a man sent off.
On that occasion, it was Nathan Redmond who was dismissed, and against West Brom, team captain Virgil van Dijk was shown a second yellow card in the closing stages.
Puel added: "There was frustration, of course, for the player. To lose van Dijk with a red card is the same as losing Redmond.
"I think it's a difficult moment for the team. It's a shame because it's the same scenario as the last game against Tottenham.
"We started very well with a good goal and, with their only chance, our opponents scored. It's very hard.
"If it happens one time we are unlucky but it's important to keep good concentration after you score and to stay with a good attitude and be very strong.
"It's a pity. In the two games, it was the same scenario and a bad scenario for us. Now it's important to keep good concentration against Everton and to react."
