Ronald Koeman is pleased with Saints’ pre-season progress and what he described as a “great week” in Holland.

Saints have secured three friendly victories in the Netherlands, including last night’s match at Feyenoord, in which more than 40,000 fans packed out De Kuip to welcome back returning heroes Jordy Clasie, Graziano Pelle and Koeman.

Most important for the Saints manager was the 3-0 win and a good performance, to go with a gradual stepping up of levels against Groningen and KVV Quick 1920.

Next up for Saints is the Europa League opener with Vitesse next week and Koeman reflected: “I think overall the players are making good steps in the physical way.

“For some players, the international players, it’s only the third week of pre-season but they have a great spirit together and working hard.

“It’s really a good work rate between them and that’s good.”

The Dutch tour proved perfect timing with Vitesse providing the first Europa League opposition.

Saints have got a real flavour of what to expect at St Mary’s next Thursday night.

“It gives us a bit of a view about the Dutch league, about Dutch football,” admitted Koeman.

“Against Groningen, tonight, and, ok, we have to prepare ourselves.

“It will be more serious than it was tonight and we start next week.”

Last night’s game was played in front of a pumping atmosphere at De Kuip, and Koeman loved it.

“It was great to be back in Rotterdam, in Feyenoord stadium, sold out, a great atmosphere in De Kuip,” he smiled.

“It was the final day of a great week what we had in Holland.

“It was the third friendly of this week, maybe that was the reason it was sometimes a little bit sloppy in the beginning.

“I think we had to be more clinical in the first ten minutes, we create three, four, big chances to score, we didn’t score.

“Totally a good performance - good defending, good organisation and that was ok.”

The attendance made it one of this summer’s biggest pre-season friendlies, and Koeman added: “Normally it’s less people in the stadiums in the friendlies, because pre-season it’s summer time everywhere.

“But here in Feyenoord it’s different because the people likes the team, the people likes the ex-players like Clasie and Pelle and it was very enjoyable to be back in Rotterdam.”