Southampton manager Claude Puel wants more width from his side after the 1-1 draw with Watford

The Saints boss was especially disappointed with his team’s first half display in the opening day 1-1 draw at St Mary’s.

A lack of width was certainly one frustration, and also something to work on at Staplewood in the coming days before facing the might of Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Puel said: “If you see the friendly games we give these opportunities to switch it wide, to take it wide. It’s very important against the opponents to find space.

“In the first half play with the ball and don’t have possibilities and questions without runners who move. It was not possible to play good football in the first half like this.

“We had to correct this and to show other things and we did this is in the second half with good football, and I think second half the second ball was important for us.”

Puel’s decision to convert Nathan Redmond from a winger into a striker did pay immediate dividends, with the £10m summer signing from Norwich delivering a debut goal to ensure a point for Saints.

Redmond did really come to life in the second period, but Puel insisted he didn’t single him out at half time for extra motivation.

“I speak with all my players because it was a collective problem, not just one or two players,” he insisted.

“It was important to find our play and to play football and to move the ball around the pitch.

“We have many situations, many solutions in the second half. This is very important.

“We can see in the second half because all the players ask for the ball and give a solution for the player with the ball and this is very important for us.

“You don’t have the same physical as other teams, there are football players with good technique and good quality and it’s important to put this on the pitch.”

The game was Puel’s first in the Premier League but he said he wasn’t taken by surprise at just how physical Watford were.

“No. I know this team and they are physical players and they play for the second ball,” said Puel.

“The first time it was not interesting for us because we don’t play and we play the play of the opponents.

“It was important in the second half to show ourselves and show our football. This was very important.”