CLAUDE Puel has spoken with Dusan Tadic over his comments stating the St Mary’s chief had not shown him “enough respect”.

The Serbian playmaker has been substituted for five successive games and in total has completed just four full games in his 20 Premier League appearances this season.

And after being once more hauled off in the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham, Tadic said: “It’s unbelievable that I was subbed again and we also lost.

“You can see statistically that we concede or lose when I’ve been taken off. I don’t think this shows enough respect for me.”

After the 28-year-old returned from international duty with Serbia, Puel held a discussion with Tadic over his remarks.

“All players can have disappointments after a game, I can understand this, but we’ve sorted this internally with calm,” Puel explained.

“He knows it was not a good response, it’s always better to give the answer on the pitch and not outside.”

Puel also broached the subject of Virgil van Dijk’s future during his press conference ahead of the Bournemouth match at St Mary's.

Van Dijk, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, has attracted the interest of numerous clubs, but Puel is calm about his captain’s future.

“For me his injury doesn’t change anything,” he said. “He’s an important player for us, he’s our captain and it’s the first time he’s ever been a captain.

“It’s important he takes this role with quality and good attitude and spirit.

“He can learn all this not just to think about his game. He can learn the management of the team and his team-mates.

“It’s a new role for him and he needs to take experience and maturity and he can improve with us.

“He’s a good player and for me one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

“He can play with us and we can give him all the maturity and quality for the future.”