DUSAN Tadic has implored Saints to abandon the long ball tactics they used in their Europa League exit to FC Midtjylland and get back to “playing football” against Norwich.

The midfielder, who came on as a substitute in Thursday’s 1-0 second leg defeat to the Danish champions, believes the team must play a different game to the one they did at the MCH Arena.

“I think we started to play too many long balls and this is not our football,” he said.

“I understand sometimes, but we play too much direct and I know these teams. If you put the ball a little bit on ground, they are in problem.

“We need to show more, to play better like team, and that’s it. It’s not good. It’s really not. We really want to go through and we are really disappointed.”

Tadic added: “Sunday’s match we need to beat Norwich and that’s it – this is the only way to go out from this.

“We need to play football how we were playing beginning of last year. To play football and then from that we can do something I think – this is my opinion.”

Tadic revealed that he felt a sense of shame at the team exiting the Europa League at the play-off stage.

“We feel bad, disappointed and also I think I feel a little bit ashamed that we didn’t go through,” he said.

Asked if he felt Saints should really have beaten Midtjylland, the Serbia international said: “I think yes, because we have much, much more qualities than them in every way and because of that I think we need to feel a little bit shame. I feel really ashamed that we didn’t pass them.”

It has certainly been a stuttering start to the season for Saints, with captain Jose Fonte admitting in typically honest fashion after the Midtjylland defeat that the players have to improve their understanding.

Tadic also pointed out that it takes time for new players to gel, but he is clear in what he thinks is the most important thing for the team to be doing right now.

“Ok, we lost some important players, some other players come in, they need time to adapt, but still what I say – we need to play more football,” he said. “Simply, we need to play football.

“For me, I always play football in my teams, and I know if you play too much long ball it’s difficult.

“This is a little bit more unlucky, you know, but if we play more football it’s more difficult for opponent and then they see that we have confidence, we believe in ourselves.”

Tadic has been a sub for Saints’ last three games, with Koeman having said that he was “a little more tired than normal” citing that he had “something in his blood” and they needed to let him recover.

But Tadic insisted he feels completely fine now.

“Yes, I feel really good,” he said. “I don’t have any problem. I’m 100 per cent, what is most important – that’s it.”