Ronald Koeman was taking plenty of positives from Saints’ 3-0 win over FC Groningen.

Koeman returned to the club where he started his playing career for the opening game of Saints’ pre-season tour to Holland and saw his side collect their first win of the summer.

It ultimately proved to be a fairly comfortable result, but more important for Koeman were the performances of the players, and that a few of them got 90 minutes under their belt.

"There were a lot of positives. Still in pre-season we know we have to be better in all the aspects in football, but for that you work hard in pre-season," Koeman told the club website.

“We are now looking forward to the next one on Tuesday and for sure looking forward to Feyenoord because that will be more tough than this.”

He added: “I think we had a difficult start in the game because we didn’t good press them but after 20 minutes we took control of the game and we scored some good goals.

“We had to score more. I think each set-piece, each corner kick, free kick, was very dangerous. I’m happy with the total performance of the players.

“We have made another step and that’s the difference between last week and this game. That’s good.”

 

Saints got a good introduction to the kind of football they will face in the Europa League qualifier courtesy of their win over FC Groningen, according to Koeman.

Saints take on Vitesse in the third qualifying round, with the first leg at St Mary’s on July 30.

Groningen gave them a taste of what to expect.

“We have to understand that we play against a Dutch team and that means it’s not so physical,” reflected Koeman.

“I think in our ball possession we had quality, we had good movement in front.

“I think finally very good to be really 100 per cent.

“We know Dutch teams try to play football. They have normally good ball possession. If you don’t press well you will get problems and we saw that in the beginning of the game but after when we press well you see the difference.”