Masterful Mane stars in a stroll for Saints

THE summer comes and Southampton’s best players go — which may explain why Ronald Koeman’s new-look side took so much pleasure in slapping down Chelsea’s B-team last night.

This was thoroughly one-sided, a potentially tricky third-round qualifying tie that turned into a stroll.

For that, Koeman should be grateful to Graziano Pelle (below), Dusan Tadic and Shane Long for the goals that gave Southampton a first European win since 1981. Beyond that, he should be thankful that no-one has yet signed Sadio Mane.

The Senegalese forward was the shining light in a game where Southampton gave debuts to Maarten Stekelenburg, Cedric Soares, Jordy Clasie and Juanmi, while Vitesse had two Chelsea youngsters — Lewis Baker and Isaiah Brown — in their side. None was as effective as Mane, who made two goals and frequently left the competent players of Vitesse looking anything but.

It leaves Southampton needing to avoid a hefty defeat in Holland next week if they are to progress. Time will tell if success is a burden they could do without.

But at least Koeman appears to have built a robust side with enough tricks to again be a nuisance in the domestic campaign.

Koeman said: ‘It is never over in football but of course the final result is a very good one. We are not in the position to think the Europa League is not important. Everyone wants to be part of Europe.’

Mane set up Pelle after 36 minutes and then won a penalty, which Tadic converted. Juanmi, the most encouraging of the debutants, made the late third for Long. The only sour point was a hamstring injury to Clasie, who will be assessed today.

Koeman will still pursue ‘two or three new players’ before the window closes. He said: ‘I expect a difficult season and want to make the squad stronger than it was.’

He has made a good start.