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Southampton ace defends under-pressure boss Claude Puel: The players love him
SOUTHAMPTON defender Cedric Soares has given his backing to under-pressure manager Claude Puel.
Cedric defends Claude Puel after difficult first season at Southampton
Puel is facing the sack at the end of the season and Saints have already lined up Hull’s Marco Silva to replace the ailing Frenchman.
But Portugal Euro 2016 winner Cedric has defended his boss, saying: “Puel is a manager who cares a lot for the technical side. He has a close relationship with the players.
“I learned a lot from all the managers in my career, they all have qualities. You have to learn something from all of them and try to take the best things.
“But you always have your own personality and way of thinking about football.”
Southampton striker Shane Long UNHAPPY at substitution
Puel cares a lot for the technical side. He has a close relationship with the players
Puel was only appointed last summer on a three-year deal and led Saints to the final of the EFL Cup, where they were narrowly beaten by a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-inspired Manchester United.
But his future at St Mary’s looks bleak amid unrest from the stands and rumours of training-ground bust-ups with star players.
Boro boss Steve Agnew is in a similar position, with his failure to keep the club in the Premier League – he has won just one out of nine games – making him an outsider for the role permanently.
Former Boro skipper Nigel Pearson and Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs are two in the frame while Leeds’ Garry Monk would also be a contender if he became available.
And Agnew himself is in no hurry to move on and would consider reverting to his former No2 role under a new manager.
“If it means I’m involved in a football club which is getting promoted back into the Premier League, then yeah, it’s something I’ll enjoy,” he said.
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