Puel expects fast improvements from Southampton

Southampton manager Claude Puel knows his side must be much better when they face Chelsea on Tuesday after a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Puel admitted the Saints were far weak in attack at St Mary’s, despite conceding three times on Saturday, including twice on the counter attack.

City were at their clincical best as Vincent Kompany scored on the counter before Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero completed fast breaks.

And Puel admitted there are plenty of areas for the Saints to improve on when they face the league leaders.

“It’s a disappointment because I think there are opportunities to make a good thing,” Puel reflected.

(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

“It was not enough from us with the quality and our passing. We kept good organisation in defence but when we recovered the ball we didn’t do enough.

“It was important to continue and we were too nervous today, so it’s not a good day for us.

“The first goal changed the game as it was difficult to find an opportunity for them, but then they scored from a corner.

“After we needed to play and leave space behind our back line. It was difficult to defend against them on the counter-attack and we had to take two goals.”