Sunday 3 January 2016 12:45, UK
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman hit out at Sadio Mane and Victor Wanyama after the Saints suffered a 1-0 defeat at Norwich.
Koeman had to change his starting line-up on the day of the Carrow Road encounter after deciding to discipline Mane for arriving late to a pre-match team meeting.
Despite the absence of Mane, Koeman's men produced a solid display and, although the match remained goalless with 20 minutes left, the visitors had probably created the better chances.
But Wanyama then earned his second yellow card of the day with a reckless tackle and, suitably encouraged, Norwich scored the only goal of the game just a few minutes later.
Asked if he was frustrated by the loss, Koeman said: "Of course. And that is by mistakes that we are doing by ourselves. The red card first, I think it is not good.
"When you know you have already a yellow, and you go for that tackle, in that position on the pitch, that is a bad decision from Wanyama.
"And it starts with the problem about Sadio. To change the team two hours before the game, because one player is coming late to the last meeting before the game, it is not that professional.
"It is not what we expect from the players of Southampton."
Koeman agreed that dropping Mane to the bench was not a decision he took lightly.
But he added: "We have rules and I think that is respectful to everybody
"I am not a manager who has 100,000 rules that happen on a daily basis but, yes, if you are late for the meeting, close to the game, then you don't really have focus and concentration to your team, to the club and to the fans.
"It's a big decision to make but I have to do it. I like to be straight to everyone at the club and, if I don't, then I can't continue like a manager."
Koeman felt Southampton had looked the more likely side to score before the sending-off and he was left to rue a first-half miss by Shane Long, who was denied by Declan Rudd when through on goal.
"I agree that we were the dominant team," said Koeman. "That we had the best chance in the game when Shane Long was put through, and that we played some good football.
"But it's so unnecessary what happened because, with 11 against 11, still we are stronger than we showed here and we know we are in a difficult situation.
"I'm angry about players who are not focused and concentrated on the club. That's my worst disappointment of the day.
"I feel let down by some players, of course."
