CLAUDE Puel has urged his side to keep their emotions in check at Wembley as Saints take on Manchester United in the League Cup final.

It is a valuable and rare opportunity for Saints to win a piece of major silverware and, as such, it is important in Puel’s mind not to become overawed by the game’s significance.

For many of the players it will be the first sniff they’ve ever got at winning a trophy and the St Mary’s chief recognises the value of a “good balance of emotion”.

“We know it’s an exciting game,” he said. “It’s a fantastic game to play, but it’s always important to keep a good balance of emotion, with a good attitude, because if we lose this we haven’t stayed with concentration and quality on the pitch.

“The most important thing is to play good football with a strong togetherness, then we can have chances to win and perhaps to make a fantastic game.

“But at the beginning it’s most important to play this game, to stay in the action and not to dream about what can happen.”

Calmness may well be a vital ingredient for Saints as they come up against a club well-versed in occasions such as these.

United have played three times at Wembley in the last ten months, having played there in last season’s FA Cup semi-final and final as well as the Community Shield.

Puel knows that picking his strongest team without any sentiment to those who have helped out during this impressive run to the national arena is essential.

“Perhaps we have 25 players that can participate, but we, of course, can’t use all of them for the final,” he said.

“It’s important to try and put in place the best team to try and win this game.

“If I consider it Manolo [Gabbiadini] has to play this game because he’s got confidence and is scoring.”

Saints have used nine academy players on the way to Wembley with one of them, Olufela Olomola, making his debut in the fourth round win against Sunderland.

Puel believes that the youngsters’ impact on the tournament is “important for the future” of the club.

“It’s important to continue to develop young players because it’s the future for Southampton and to also have good results,” he said.

“It’s always difficult to develop young players because we don’t know without experience if they can play well.

“But it’s important for the future of Southampton.”