Victor Wanyama: Southampton targeting a top-six finish in the Premier League

Victor Wanyama has rejected suggestions Southampton are over-performing and says the team are targeting a top six finish this season.

The south coast side saw a host of first-team regulars depart St Mary’s in the summer but have defied their pre-season critics to record a stunning start to the new campaign.

Saints racked up their fourth-straight Premier League win against Leicester on Saturday to hold on to second place in the top flight and Wanyama reckons they can improve on last season’s finishing position of eighth.

We’re working hard and if you work hard you are going to get the results.

“I don’t really think we’re over-performing,” the midfielder told Goals on Sunday.

“We’re working hard and if you work hard you are going to get the results. We always want to go out there and enjoy our football and when we do that we get good results.

“We just what to be better than last season. We want to improve. We are not really looking at the position now. We just want to get as many points as we can. Top six would be great and a big improvement.”

Worried

Wanyama – who joined the club in July 2013 for £12.5m – admitted he was concerned when he saw the likes of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers leave Southampton in the summer but says he is now loving life under new boss Ronald Koeman.

The Kenyan has netted three goals in his previous seven Premier League games, despite failing to score in his previous 26, and says Dutchman Koeman is giving him freedom in the middle of the park.

“A lot of first-team, important players left the club and I was a bit worried and like ‘what’s going on?’ because I’d never been to a club where things happen like this. It was a bit worrying.

“But with the new signings and the pre-season tour, where we gelled well together, we knew we were going to get something.

“He [Koeman] makes us stay on our feet and not get carried away. That’s what he tells us in the changing room and we understand that. We just want to go out and work hard.

“He likes to play football and he gives all the midfielders the opportunity to move free so we’re enjoying it.

“He is also open to everyone, he’s always talking to everyone. Even if you don’t play he always comes to you and tries to lift you up. He’s a great manager.

“There is a lot of competition in Southampton and everyone is working hard in training. I’ve been working hard and now I’m in the team and I’m enjoying it as well.”