Defiant Saints boss Claude Puel says he is “surprised” to see speculation he could get the sack at the end of the season, and insisted he doesn’t feel under pressure.

The under-fire Frenchman came in for some strong criticism following Saints’ goalless draw against Hull City at St Mary’s last weekend, but defended his record ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Liverpool.

Puel believes that in a season where the top seven are again dominating, that a potential eighth placed finish and EFL Cup final appearance is a decent effort.

Though he accepts the frustration that his side have not scored enough goals this season, he is optimistic about the future given the development of players such as Oriol Romeu, James Ward-Prowse, Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens under his watch.

Puel said: “I am surprised to see this because it seems for me it is an interesting season with many games with the European games, the FA Cup games and with the final at Wembley against Manchester United.

“We improve players like Redmond, like Ward-Prowse for the first time in the national team, and many players can improve.

“It was interesting work I think and it is a surprise for me to see or to read all this speculation. “It is a little particular.”

He added: “I come here for a project to continue this work, to improve all this young players and many players become starting players this year like Yoshida, Romeu, Stephens, and I think it is important to continue this work and the future of Southampton.

“We have to correct some details because we cannot allow us the best results but we are ninth on the table with all these games, all this injury, and I think the project is ok also.

“It is important to finish strongly.”

Saints finished the previous three seasons in eighth, seventh and sixth, but Puel made a fair point regarding the strength of the top seven, who now look far more stable and are spending big.

They are proving impenetrable, and that could continue for some time.

When asked whether expectations were unreasonably high at Saints, Puel replied: “Perhaps because Southampton stay last season with a good position in the Premier League.

“Every season is different and for example this season we can see all the great teams in the first places. It was not this for the last season where often great teams could not do a good league.

“I think this season it is difficult for the team to find a good position. Everton, for example, tried to find a good position and it is difficult for them because all the great teams are in the first place. It is difficult. It is a different season.

“It is important to keep the way. I come here for a project and to put in place the policies of the club and to continue this work. It is not just the position on the table, not just the last result that is important.

“If we win a game fantastic and if we lose a game it is poor and not enough. My philosophy is not this.

“We work for the future, and of course we want to keep the good ambition but it is important to keep the good work and to develop the squad for the future. This is the most important.

“With all the good games you can do since the beginning of the season we are not deserved about many games, European games and also in the Premier League. In the final also we deserve other things.

“For me it’s a good way, good work, without good reward for the moment but it’s important to continue this work and not just see the position.

“We are ninth in the table at this moment with two games postponed and this is a normal position but with the quality we can put on the pitch this season we deserved other things I think.”

Despite all the noise from outside surrounding his position, Puel insists he isn’t feeling under pressure.

“No (I don’t feel under pressure) because I focus about the work and the training session and I cannot give something about speculation,” he admitted.

“I am surprised to see this or to read this, but I cannot sometimes understand this because it is important to keep this way, this work, and I repeat there are interesting games and work since the beginning of the season with the squad.

“It is important to keep our concentration about this and not different speculation.

“It was not enough against Hull City and in this game it is possible sometimes that people are unhappy but it was the same for us – for the staff and the players – and it is normal.

“After the game against Chelsea it was I think without the loss good football, quality with character, intensity and very interesting.

“This was not against Hull City the good game, without good intensity and good quality, and against a team behind with good organisation and strong defensive unit it is always difficult to find the solution.

“We need intensity, quality, on the game and it was not enough.”