Southampton boss: Club has 'everything' to make Premier League return

While not officially relegated just yet, Saints’ fate could be confirmed as soon as Saturday should they fail to beat Fulham. 

With an eight-point gap to safety ahead of the final three games of the season, it certainly looks like a case of when not if Saints will drop down to the second tier for the first time since 2012.

READ MORE: Saints team news for Fulham clash as Adams faces late race to prove fitness

That outcome was all-but confirmed on Monday night when Saints were beaten 4-3 by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground to cap off a ten-match winless run in the Premier League.

And while Selles insisted that he and his team will continue fighting until relegation is mathematically confirmed, he also addressed the topic of a speedy return to the Premier League.

“I think when a club gets relegated it’s a real issue for the club, inside, for the city, for the players, for the workers in the club, for the technical staff,” the Spaniard said on Friday afternoon. 

“It’s always a very difficult period but I think the club has everything to bounce back really quickly and be in the Premier League the year after.

“We have the support from a big city, we have our stadium with our fans who will support us, we have our organisation inside with the technical staff, and the players and future players who can help. 

“We have a good structure with values and a philosophy and it will just be putting things in place to go to the next chapter.”

Ruben Selles and his Saints players pictured following defeat at the City Ground. (Image: PA)

Selles also addressed the conversation around his own future, once again telling the watching media that he would like to stay on in the Championship while admitting that the decision is out of his hands.

“It’s not for me to decide,” he explained. “I would like to carry on in the Championship but bounce back to the Premier League the year after. That’s what I want to do.

“Right now we are just focusing on our daily job, trying to get the team and being competitive tomorrow. That’s all. We will talk about it if we need to talk about it at the end of the season.” 

And asked whether or not he has been involved in discussions and planning for next season, Selles responded: “No. What happens with situations like that is a lot of doubts for the future, that is not only for us but for any club in our situation. 

“So I've not been part of that because I've been focussing on what I can do, but I understand it has already been going on for sure.”

Selles’s side will be without Mohammed Salisu, Romain Perruad, Juan Larios, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Tino Livramento for tomorrow’s clash with Fulham. Meanwhile, striker Che Adams faces a late fitness test to determine his availability.