Ronald Koeman is targeting five wins from Saints’ remaining 11 games to secure European qualification.

The Saints boss is hopeful that 61 points should prove to be enough to bag a place in Europe, although he insisted there were no guarantees that would do the job.

After a tough run of results Saints host Crystal Palace at St Mary’s tomorrow night bidding to get back to winning ways with the prospect of Europe still at the front of Koeman’s mind He said: “Left are 11 games and of course a little bit more difficult the results in the last few games.

“We had a difficult period in the beginning of December. I think the reaction of the players was fantastic after that and I expect the same reaction in the last 11 games.

“We look back what happened the last few games, struggling in scoring goals, but still I think we play out of a good organisation and we don’t receive a lot of goals but in an attacking way we have to improve ourselves and that is the question.

“Tomorrow is a difficult one but the first out of 11 games but still we are in a high position in the table. The focus for the players is to win five of 11 games and 61 points and that means in my opinion European football.”

Koeman also clarified his remarks from the weekend when he said following the defeat to West Brom that he never thought it realistic that Saints would qualify for the Champions League.

“Maybe that’s good to talk about that. I think it’s a misunderstanding,” he explained.

“I heard in the paper was something I said that I never thought in reaching Champions League football.

“Still if we win seven or eight of 11 we will be fourth in the league but I realise it’s very difficult because we have to beat some big teams and that’s not easy.

“I still believe at the moment we can finish in a high position in the league.”