MANAGER Ivan Juric admitted telling the Saints players to be "really thankful" after seeing the reaction of the fans to the club's relegation.

Saints became the first side to be relegated from the Premier League after just 31 matches following their 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

Brennan Johnson scored twice in the first half before Mateus Fernandes and Mathys Tel netted in added time on a sunny afternoon in the capital.

The result leaves Saints set for the Championship next season but the travelling fans issued a remarkable show of support after the final whistle.

Asked if, given the circumstances, he was surprised by the reaction, Juric said: "For me, it's something completely new, a new experience.

"I said to the players that they have to be really thankful that they have fans like this. It was incredible, the way they love their team, their squad.

"Even the players that we have been relegated with, it's incredible for me, incredible. I think the fans really deserve much more.

"Every person who works at Southampton has to do it better and create something much stronger than we created this year.

"In my experience, it would have been a completely different reaction. It's a different type of culture. This, even for my mentality, is something incredible.

"They show love even in this moment. It's a great English culture, Southampton culture, incredible."

Manager Juric had previously been critical of the club's structure, pointing to likely 20th-place finishes in two Premier League seasons as evidence. 

Saints have appointed a new technical director, Johannes Spors, and have parted ways with the head of recruitment, Darren Mowbray, this year.

Asked if Saints have the structure in place to bounce back immediately in the Championship, Juric responded: "We will see everything.

"It's clear that if you last two years in the Premier League, you don't compete. You have been relegated too easily both times.

"That means that there are huge problems and lots of situations. Now is a very important moment to understand all the mistakes that the club made.

"We must start to create something good. These fans deserve it. You see all of these fans. Now is the moment to think and create something good."