Southampton: Nicola Cortese key in Saints' surge, says Gordon Strachan
'St Mary's fans don't put too much pressure on their players'
Friday 7 November 2014 16:14, UK
Nicola Cortese must take some credit for Southampton’s surge up the Premier League table, Gordon Strachan told Goals on Sunday.
Saints boss Ronald Koeman, as well six-goal Graziano Pelle and assist king Dusan Tadic, have earned the plaudits during the St Mary’s side’s ascent to second place.
But ex-Southampton manager Strachan says the foundations built by the club’s former Executive Chairman, who departed in January this year, cannot be forgotten.
“Everyone thinks they are doing terrific,” Strachan said of Southampton.
“But it’s not just Koeman, it’s also Cortese, who set this up a long time ago.
“People were saying ‘you can’t get rid of Nigel Adkins as manager’ but he did and got Mauricio Pochettino in, and has now got somebody else.
“Their recruitment has also been good, getting in players who are better than some others who have gone to different clubs £30 or £40million.
“The kids seem to come through, too, so they have it down to a tee and there are really good things in place, partly becuase of Cortese.”
Polite
Strachan managed Southampton between 2001 and 2004, during which time the South Coast side reached an FA Cup final, losing to Arsenal in 2003, and secured an eighth-place finish in the Premier League.
I think the bigger teams will start to get moving now but there’s no reason they can’t get in the top six.
And the Scot – who has also had stints in charge of Coventry, Celtic and Middlesbrough – was quick to praise the sensible approach of the Saints fans and commend them for not expecting too much of the players.
“I loved my time at Southampton because it’s a good club, with great people and it’s a terrific place to play football,” added Strachan.
“In Glasgow you talk in the street for 20 minutes and people tell you exactly where you’re going wrong and who you should be picking
“But when you walk around Southampton it’s all very polite with ‘hello and ‘well done’.
"They only get excited when they get in the stadium, so the kids are never put under any pressure.”
Click here for Strachan's views on why it's vital Rangers, Hearts and Hibernian return to the Scottish top flight.
