For many clubs the Europa League is seen as a hindrance, but the fact that St Mary’s is sold-out for tonight’s game against Vitesse and that anticipation around the city is so high just goes to show how special it is for Saints.

It may be hard to believe that Saints’ last European campaign was 12 years ago, and that ended before it really even got started, but the fact it was so long ago underlines its importance to the club.

Ronald Koeman has been superb at capturing the mood of the club and its fans since he arrived.

He did it again yesterday in his press conference.

You could almost sense every Saints would be nodding along when they heard him answer questions about the supposed hindrance of the Euorpa League.

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

He added: “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."

On playing Thursday and Sunday he, surely quite correctly, surmised it was a matter of mindset rather than physical issues.

“I think maybe it is more of a mental question,” said Koeman, "I think if you as a manager, you show doubting about the Europa League and the Premier League, what do the players do?

"I think as the personality, as the head coach, you have to show the ambition to reach the maximum.”

It’s exactly the attitude what has attracted 32,000 fans to St Mary’s tonight, and why this will be a special moment in the club’s history.