Second season syndrome. It’s not something that disturbs Ronald Koeman’s sleeping pattern.

After a runaway success in his first year in charge at St Mary’s, Koeman could be forgiven for wondering just how he can possibly top it in 2015/16.

When he arrived at Saints little more than a year ago things were shaky. Star players gone and going, the club reeling from Mauricio Pochettino’s departure and disquiet in the dressing room.

Saints were on a knife edge. If they had put the wrong man in charge at that stage the house of cards could have fallen, but in Koeman they appointed perfectly.

He brought together a squad quickly, gelled them remarkably well and guided them to a seventh placed Premier League finish, that for long periods threatened to be even better.

Now they as they prepare to kick-off the new Premier League season they are already just a two-legged tie away from the group stages of the Europa League.

To say the mood around St Mary’s, from directors right through to fans, has changed is an understatement of fairly monumental proportions.

Second season syndrome is a phrase coined due to the struggles of living up to the expectations placed upon you after a surprise success.

Koeman could be forgiven for wondering whether it will be a battle he faces this season.

But such is his confidence, founded during a wonderful playing career and a successful foray into management, that it certainly doesn’t keep him awake at night.

“Of course, it’s more difficult because the expectations were fairly low last year and we surprised everybody and it’s difficult to surprise the people again,” he admitted.

“But the fans are amazing in Southampton, they know what the situation is and they don’t ask for European football every season because they are realistic.

“They like the way we play football, the offensive way and that’s good.

“It’s good because the stadium is sold out at this moment in the holidays and still 32,000 in the stadium. That’s great support which we like.”

Koeman is also clear on the only way that Saints are going to match the standards now expected of them.

“Of course the expectation will be different than it was last year. It's different but it wakes up everybody to work harder and to believe in our qualities to make the squad stronger and I think until now I am very happy with the pre-season,” he said.

“It’s a nice challenge. It’s about football that you have to change, it’s good for the spirit to bring in new people, good people.

“Last year was different, we lost more players than we lost this season and a lot of new signings and new people. I know the qualities of the signings and last year we had good business and I am totally confident we will do the same this season.”

Koeman’s confidence is infectious.

It quickly spread through the squad, and contributed massively to their success last season.

It is also seeping through the club as a whole.

All that experience he has amassed during the years has played a part, and he is well aware of that.

“I am changed, like everybody because football is also sometimes normal life,” he reflected.

“You develop yourself, you have more experience. To be a manager, it's a lot about experience.

“I feel myself more comfortable, but I have a lot more experience. Good experience, bad ones, but that is life of a football manager.

“I am a better coach than I was. Still, I think about football in the same way but the experience is different.”

The Europa League experience is certainly a new one for Saints as a club.

It’s their first time in the competition since it was rebranded and the format changed to its current state.

It certainly has plenty of detractors, with many cynics branding it a waste of time and money, due to the demands it places on a squad and the need to play on Thursday nights.

Again, though, Koeman is optimistic and excited rather than fearful.

“I think it depends on the club,” he said.

“Sometimes I can understand if you are a manager of a big club in the Premier League you like to play in the Champions League and maybe the Europa League is not the competition you like to have but for Southampton it is a new situation, a new experience for the players, the club and the fans and I'm not worried about playing in Europe and playing in the Premier League because I believe in the qualities of the players, the spirit of the players and to do it well in both competitions.

“We are trying to do the maximum. To start the competition without that spirit, I don't like, I hate that. What you have to do is the maximum to be part of every competition when you get that opportunity, that is most important."

He continued: “I have that experience as a coach, I was coaching teams and then playing in the Champions League.

“I don't have the experience of playing on Thursday and in Europe. That is one of the reasons why we have a full squad and balance of the team, to manage both competitions and to understand you have to do it. “

What Koeman has brought to Saints above all else is a winner’s mentality, and he accepts no excuses for failure. It permeates everything he deals with, and the Europa League is no exception. It’s why Saints have every chance of bucking the trend and proving a success both in the Europa League and domestic competition this season.

“We have to respect the competition because we did a great season last year and we played for the Europa League over 38 games in the Premier League,” he insisted.

“It is a crazy thing to think about it, to throw everything away in the start of the Europa League legs. I don't like that.

“I am a person who likes to win always and I hate losing. I hate to lose and that mentality needs my players as well.”