SAINTS midfielder Moi Elyounoussi insisted there is “no question” that he “strongly believes” the club can still stave off relegation from the Premier League this season.

The Norwegian international remains confident despite admitting the match at Leeds United – in which Saints were beaten 1-0 – was “a big” occasion.

Junior Firpo scored the only goal of the clash, which Saints legend Matt Le Tissier told the Daily Echo was a “proverbial six-pointer” last week, to leave the St Mary’s side rooted to the bottom.

Ruben Selles must lead his charges from four points adrift if they are to survive after losing to the team in 19th and directly above them for the third time in 2023.

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Prior defeats versus relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and Wolves under former boss Nathan Jones had already made the task a mammoth one in the club’s 11th consecutive top-flight campaign.

Daily Echo: Southampton's Mohamed Elyounoussi during the Premier League match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary's Stadium. Photo by Stuart Martin..

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Elyounoussi said: “It’s disappointing, obviously. Disappointing from our point of view, obviously. I think it was a typical game, you could see two teams or two clubs fighting to stay in the Premier League.

“Two teams who are breaking down the rhythm for each other. We couldn't really find a rhythm or composure with the ball, I think in the second half we looked better and then again they broke it and we did the same for them. So there weren't a lot of chances. And then when they did score it was soft from us.”

Asked directly by the Daily Echo if he thinks Saints can still survive despite the costly concession in Yorkshire, Elyounoussi responded: “Absolutely, yeah, no question about it.

“I strongly believe that with the squad we have, with the staff we have, I think we can do it. With the fans behind us, hopefully, they push us even more next weekend.

“I think we're in the game the whole time. It’s always one goal deciding it, even if it’s our side,” he added, knowing it was the 10th time Saints have lost by the odd goal in the league this season.  

“The only way to get those margins on our side is by earning it, we're there for every inch. It starts with the duels and our aggression and intensity without the ball, then a bit more composed with the ball when we have it. The only way to do it is by sticking together, now more than ever.”

The defeat spoiled manager Selles’s first match as the permanent successor to Jones and, by extension, his own former boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, having been appointed on Friday.

Daily Echo: Ruben Selles

Although Saints did defeat Chelsea in his game as interim, it is the third manager this season to fall foul of the same patterns of destruction. Elyounoussi insists the players take full responsibility.

“We always do. I mean really, we always look at ourselves in the mirror. Me included. I am always looking at myself and asking what I could do better, before looking around us and the manager,” he said.

“Ruben has come in and shown a lot of passion, and dedication. I think preparation was good but we couldn't put it out there, what we worked on, I think we could do a bit more. The occasion was a big one, but there are plenty more games to play. Next week is going to be huge as well.”

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