Claude Puel defended his rotation policy after Saints were dumped out of the Europa League by Israeli minnows Hapoel Be’er Sheva last night.

Saints could only muster a 1-1 draw with Be’er Sheva at St Mary’s, a result which saw them eliminated from Group K.

Puel has consistently changed his team for European games, but played his strongest side against Be’er Sheva – other than skipper Jose Fonte, who didn’t play a single minute in the competition.

However, it wasn’t enough on the night, with a feeling it should never have got that far after a 3-0 win over Sparta Prague in the first group game of the campaign.

Puel backed his approach though and said: “I think it was important since the beginning of the season with all this many games to put in place a rotate. This allowed the possibility for example to find the semi-final of the (EFL) cup.

“It is not possible to play all these games. It is a disappointment for all the players, the fans, the squad and the staff also because we were ambitious for this competition, and all the competitions, and not only European games.

“Now all our ambition we have for the Premier League, for the cup, and I think the other cup.

“It’s important to come back with good spirit, good character and good reaction.

“It’s a disappointment just after this game, and this is normal.

“There are many things positive, we develop many young players who take experience and now it’s important all this experience to put this in the Premier League and try to find qualification (for the Europa League) at the end of the season.”

Puel now insisted Saints will shift their focus to the Premier League, adding: “It is difficult to find the good words.

“It was a big example for Southampton, for the fans and for the players also.

“Also I think we do all the intensity, all the concentration in this competition with good games, sometimes without the good results.

“We played this competition with all our possibilities and it’s difficult to accept this result and the final with just one shot and one chance and one goal for this team.

“It is football and I believe we were a little bit nervous at the beginning of the game and after in the second half it was better with possession, some chances and it was difficult to accept this situation.

“Now it’s important to look forward and many teams when they are eliminated come back with a good spirit, a big reaction.

“It is a strong challenge now to give a good answer for the next game.

“I think it’s an opportunity also to think on the Premier League and to keep our concentration and to see this game (against Middlesbrough on Sunday). It is now an important game.

“I think this competition we are unlucky and we have the opportunities to come back in the Premier League and to try and come back in the first part of the Premier League to qualify (for the Europa League again).

“This was an interesting competition for many players and we progress and improve and took experience and now it’s important to see all this in the Premier League every time and a good recovery.”