Puel happy with Saints campaign despite sacking

Southampton had a good campaign last year according to their former manager Claude Puel who was sacked by the club earlier this week.

Puel was given just a single season in charge of the Saints but he did manage to guide them to a Wembley EFL Cup final and eighth-placed finish in the Premier League.

And the 55-year-old was upbeat when he gave an interview to French television just days after his dismissal from St Mary’s.

“I remain positive,” he said. “We had a very good year. I was able to discover different football – the fans, the players – it was really great.”

The former Nice and Lyon manager revealed he felt it was more than just results on the pitch that led to his sacking but has no immediate plans for the future.

(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

“There can be misunderstandings. I think that my departure is for a little bit more than sporting reasons,” he added.

“I’ve had a lot of contacts for a month, a lot of solicitations, but I did not talk to anyone because I was under contract and I like to respect my contracts.

“The separation came a little late. I do not know at all [the next job] – there are few available. I need a good little project, to feel good and appreciated.”