Southampton manager Russell Martin is keen for his team to continue growing in 2024-25, after the Saints’ dramatic penalty shootout win over Everton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
Before Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Ipswich – also promoted to the top flight for this season – Martin is keen to focus on the positives from Southampton’s start to the campaign.
“I’m convinced we will get better and keep improving, and the more time the players have together, the better they’ll become,” he said. “That’s the evidence we have after five years of being a management team.
“It was the case last season, which was a bigger change. We were trying to implement something totally different to the players. Now a lot of them understand it but then we still have a lot of new guys who have come in.
“Then also us adapting to the Premier League and that’s been interesting for us to learn. Certain bits that were really effective in the Championship are maybe less so in the Premier League against certain opposition.
“As well as the players, we’re finding our rhythm. The players are enjoying playing around with stuff on the training pitch and working stuff out for themselves as well, so they’re a big part of that.
“We will keep learning and we will keep adapting – but while remaining us. I said that to the players on Tuesday.”