- Russell Martin guided Southampton back to the Premier League on Sunday
- Southampton recorded a 1-0 win against Leeds in the play-off final at Wembley
- Has Chelsea offered Manchester United a way out of Erik ten Hag’s darkness through the departure of Mauricio Pochettino? – Listen to the It all starts! Podcast
Southampton boss Russell Martin admitted he was overcome with emotion after leading Southampton back to the Premier League.
‘It’s probably the best feeling I’ve ever had. I am truly grateful. “I’ve felt like that all week, filled with immense pride and gratitude for what the players have given us,” Martin said.
“As a group of players they have been incredible in what they have done and how they have grown together, spirit-wise. I thought this would be the hardest part after the group split up and I hope we can keep as many of them together as possible.
“I will end up in bed alone, crying in my eyes and feeling nothing but love for the players,” Martin insisted.
The 38-year-old thanked Jason Wilcox – who left Southampton last month to become technical director at Manchester United – for his confidence in him. Wilcox joined Southampton as director of football last summer following the club’s relegation to the Championship and hired Martin.
Russell Martin paid tribute to his players and Southampton executives after his side claimed victory against Leeds in the play-off final on Sunday
Southampton were promoted back to the Premier League after a 1-0 win at Wembley
Martin thanked former Southampton technical director Jason Wilcox (pictured) for hiring him and admitted he felt the director was ‘brave’ to hire him
“Jason had a great day on Saturday (with Man Utd). Appointing me wasn’t a sexy deal. They were brave enough to give me the opportunity and hopefully I repaid them with a day they will remember forever. It definitely gave me one of the best days of my career,” Martin added.
Nine years ago he led Norwich to success in the Championship play-off final at Wembley and the Saints boss insisted this victory felt different and insisted it was vindication for himself.
‘It was great to do this as a player. It feels different as a manager because it affects my family so much more. My job is on the line because of the precarious nature of it all,” he said. “I’ve given my best this season against some great coaches of Championship quality and having Kieran (McKenna) and Enzo (Maresca) linked to every job in the country shows that.”
No team in England has had greater possession than Southampton’s average of 66.1 percent and Martin insisted he would try to implement a similar style in the top flight.
‘Possession doesn’t win games, but it’s a way to take some of the randomness out of the game, but also the best chance you have to show the best version of yourself. For me it’s the best way to win, it’s what we believe in and we finally won something with it. It will be a confirmation for some people. “I’m sure it will start that we can’t prove ourselves in the Premier League like this, so it’s up to us to prove ourselves right,” Martin said.
Martin added that he felt he was ‘not the sexiest date’ but stated he was grateful to both the club and its players
Adam Armstrong’s (pictured) decisive goal in the first half ended Southampton’s one-year break in the Premier League
Daniel Farke admitted his side ‘suffered a lot’ after the defeat but would ‘come back stronger’
Leeds boss Daniel Farke admitted things couldn’t get worse after his side suffered a record defeat in the fourth play-off final.
“It can’t be worse, we are suffering a lot,” Farke said. We feel the pain today and are deeply disappointed that we were not able to send our supporters home with something to cheer about and that we are not back in the promised land.
‘We will see this as extra motivation to come back stronger. It will be difficult to come back stronger than 90 points, but being able to call ourselves a Premier League team is something we want.”