Saints’ Cedric relishing facing big guns

Southampton have a tough run-in in the final month of the Premier League season, but defender Cedric Soares is looking forward to testing himself against some of the big-hitters.

The Saints found Manchester City too strong last Saturday, as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at St Mary’s Stadium, and they face a trip to league leaders Chelsea next Tuesday.

With games against Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United still to come after that, Southampton, who are currently ninth in the table, will have a tough job in ensuring a top-half finish for the fourth season in a row.

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Cedric, however, is used to being part of a team that defies the odds, as he was in the Portugal squad that surprisingly won Euro 2016 last summer and is relishing the challenges that lie ahead.

He said: “We will have very important games but it’s an exciting moment to play these kind of games.

“We are in a good position now and we can achieve something as well. We still have our target in our mind and it’s going to be interesting until the end of the season. Playing these amazing teams is always good for all the players.

“Every Premier League game is very tough but playing against the big teams you have extra motivation which is natural.”