ROMEU AIMING HIGH
CHANGE OF TACTICS NO PROBLEM FOR SAINTS AHEAD OF SUNDERLAND SHOWDOWN
Midfielder Oriol Romeu is determined to help Southampton build on their sixthplace Premier League finish last season.
Saints ended in seventh place in Ronald Koeman’s first campaign in charge, 2014-15, then improved by three points and one position last term.
Koeman departed to Everton in the summer, but former Chelsea midfielder Romeu is eager to keep Saints’ forward momentum going under new boss Claude Puel, who has introduced a change of tactics.
The Saints have picked up just one point from their first two games this season, drawing with Watford and losing at Manchester United, but they are favourites to beat David Moyes’ Sunderland at St Mary’s tomorrow (3pm).
“I just want to try to get better and improve every day,” said Romeu, who should be fit to face the Black Cats despite being forced off injured at Old Trafford last weekend.
“Last season we had a very good season and we all enjoyed it, but this one is another challenge.
“We just have to get better and improve.
“We changed our system and we changed a little bit our style of play.
“We have a good team and we just have to improve and get better. Personally, I feel very comfortable with my team-mates, the confidence is higher.”
The 24-year-old heads into the Sunderland game looking to maintain an unbeaten personal record against the Wearsiders.
He was involved in three wins over the Black Cats with Chelsea, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 home win in 2011-12 and coming on for the final 12 minutes in a 2-1 away victory the same season,.
He was in the side which won 3-1 at the Stadium of Light in 2012-13 but was forced off injured after just 20 minutes.
Last season, his first with Saints, he was a late sub in Southampton’s 1-0 victory on Wearside and then was involved throughout the return, a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s.
Romeu is happy on the south coast, after previous season-long loans at Valencia and Stuttgart, telling Saints’ YouTube channel: “The family club that we have here helps everyone to settle and to get better. To feel like part of a club, rather than going on loan, is much better.
“I’m very happy here. Once you’ve had a long season with all your teammates and everyone in the club you’re feeling much more comfortable.
“Since the first day, everyone was amazing with me. I’m very pleased with the way they treated me, but now it’s even better. The confidence is higher. You can see how day by day you can get in and settle in easily, so it’s very good and I’m proud to be here.”