Claude Puel believes that an eighth place finish will be an achievement for Saints as the curtain falls on an up and down campaign.

Saints enter the final game of the season at home to Stoke knowing a win will guarantee them eighth spot.

Given the strength of the top seven in this campaign, most neutrals would feel that being the ‘best of the rest’ would be a victory for Saints and Puel in his first season at St Mary’s.

However, there is much talk that he could yet be sacked.

“For us it was a long season, and difficult, but a very interesting season,” reflected Puel. “With all these games and competitions we learn a lot.

“After if we see the situation all the great teams, the great players with a strong potential finish in first place, just after seventh place is eighth place and it will be interesting for us to finish eighth on the table and it will be a good thing for Southampton and the squad.

“All the great teams this season are on a very good level and they get their objective of the season and it is difficult to finish more up on the table with the quality on this Premier League and these great teams.

“This last game is important for us.”

Puel has attempted to fight back somewhat over speculation he could be sacked after the end of the season.

His position was hardly strengthened by Saints chairman Ralph Krueger refusing to commit to Puel remaining in charge next season, as he instead chose to admit that all footballing matters would be subject to an end of year review.

Puel, though, has clearly taken the decision to try and direct focus on to one last big effort against Stoke.

“I don’t answer the question because it’s not my worry,” he said when asked if he was confident he would still be Saints boss next season.

“It is just to work, to make my job and other things, speculation about speculation, I don’t say anything. I have no time to lose my concentration about this.”

The manager also played down reports of dressing room unrest which have surfaced in newspapers over the last week.

“I am sorry but I didn’t read this in this moment.

“I keep my conversation about the team and to prepare this last game and others things I don’t want to comment about.

“I don’t know what it is and it’s not interesting for me.

“Just I saw good work in the training session and concentration and this is the most important for me.

“After other speculation about other things in newspapers I cannot make any comment about.

“I am satisfied about the strong work all season because it’s a long season with many games.

“Sometimes it was fantastic and always they get the good attitude and the good spirit in the training session every game, sometimes without the good reward.

“I say congratulations for all this good work all season and this is the most important.

“After the different comments I don’t know where is not important for me.”

Despite some negativity at the moment, there have been bright moments in the campaign, not least the Wembley appearance in the EFL Cup final.

Puel said: “Many moments when we can play a strong game with quality on the pitch, in defence and attack also it was very interesting. There were many great games I think in a long season, sometimes without the good reward.

“The identity of our game was interesting and it’s important to develop all this with a clinical edge.

“It was interesting and a good memory on the final and not just the final but quality we can do on the journey of the EFL Cup, every time with a clean sheet, qualification against Sunderland, Crystal Palace, developing young players.

“After qualification away at Arsenal and the two legs against Liverpool was fantastic also.

“It is a good feeling because we saw the quality and the level of the team.

“The final was fantastic and it is a good memory and fantastic support with the fans also for this final.

“It was fantastic to see them and all this support, it was just the result was not enough.

“It was a good feeling and this shows the quality of the team and what we can do with more consistency for next season.”