Manager Will Still opens up on Southampton in first interview

The Belgian-born 32 year old penned a three-year contract at St Mary's in May, marking his first move into management in the English game.

The club expect him to deliver promotion back to the Premier League, as they prepare for the Championship season to start on August 9.

Still has previously overseen Stade Reims and RC Lens in the French top division, as well as two teams in his country of birth, en route to Saints.

Asked why Saints is the right next step, he told the Daily Echo: "The people, the supporters, the history of the club and where the club is at.

Will Still has completed his first week of training at Saints (Image: Matt Watson / Southampton FC)

"Last year, I think it was tricky for everyone, players, supporters, board members, staff - and there's an opportunity to do something new here.

"We want to turn a page, get going and being really positive about something. There is a trauma there, there is a bit of pain that's left a mark.

"But it's up to us to be as energetic, as open and as positive as we can be to get as many people as we can on board with what we're trying to do."

Still continued: "We want to turn the team into a very proactive team. It's easy to say, but a front foot team, a sexy team that plays entertaining stuff.

"The supporters will enjoy it, but that's why I chose Southampton, because the people here and the infrastructure are ready to do that."

Still arrives with a big reputation despite being just 32, after a record-breaking 17-match unbeaten run with Stade Reims in France back in 2022.

The youngest manager in the top five European leagues was still studying for his UEFA Pro License alongside managing the Red and Whites.

His journey began at 17, studying coaching at college in Preston, and has seen him work as a video analyst, coach and assistant on the way.

"It's completely surreal to be here at Southampton but it has been from day one in my career, and I don't want to get used to it," insisted Still.

"I really do realise how lucky I am. I'm just a normal person that enjoys football. I've still got my mates that I played with when I was six years old.

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"I don't have a lot of friends, but I've got a few that I've stuck with forever, and I've got a family, a wife, that remind me every day that I'm just Will.

"I just want to be normal. I want to be as positive, because we do have the best job in the world, and if everyone realises that, then we're a step further."

Saints owner Dragan Solak labelled Still "very intelligent" in our interview last month, and was impressed by the manager's willingness to adapt.

In previous interviews, Still said the only philosophy he is set on is winning. He will bring that approach here, but reveals he will favour a back four.

"We're going to press high and we're going to press a lot, and when we're not pressing, we have to be incredibly compact," Still now explains.

"We have to defend the goal like it's whatever's left in our life. So we all expect a bit of dedication, a bit of commitment to what we're trying to do.

"But it's also having a bit of personality. We want to play forward, we want to get in behind, we want to be positive," the boss continued. 

"I don't especially like keeping possession for possession's sake. It's little details. It's coaching players to be on the turn, to pick up information.

"What touch is the easiest to play forward? What's your next pass? How do we press? Where do we press? And it's about being as fit as possible.

"It's easy to say now because we also know how competitive the Championship is, but we've got qualities too - we've got very good players."

Along with technical director Johannes Spors, Still has appointed an all-new coaching staff to work with him for his first season at Saints.

The experienced Paul Trollope has been confirmed as assistant manager, while Spaniard Ruben Martinez has been named goalkeeper coach.

New Saints assistant manager Paul Trollope (Image: Matt Watson / Southampton FC)

Adam Lallana has remained on Still's staff as a coach, along with Carl Martin. A visa application is in for video analyst Clement Lemaitre.

Still insists: "I definitely had a word and I had the last word to say yes to these. I've always worked well working with different people.

"I think I need feedback and if something's not right, then I need people to tell me that something's not right. Trolls has got the experience.

"He knows what it takes to get out of this league and be competitive. Adam has got that experience of a player, he's won everything there is to win.

"He's incredibly eager to learn and to be in and around the place so that's brilliant. Carl's still here and he's got great skills working with the players.

"I worked with my brothers last season, which was brilliant, but their family reasons kept them in Belgium - close to their newly born children.

"That's fine. But like I said, when I took over in Reims, it was a fully new staff to me. When I took over in Belgium, it was a fully new staff then.

"I'm used to it, it takes me out of my comfort zone and sets me on the right foot so it's interesting. The first week here has confirmed that it's good."

Still insists he also has "honest conversations" with Spors over transfers, despite the German leading the recruitment at Saints this summer.

Spors has appointed a brand-new recruitment team, including Hoffenheim squad planner Tim Lederer, and a number of international scouts.

They have already signed Joshua Quarshie from Hoffenheim, and are in advanced negotiations to land Damion Downs from FC Koln.

Will Still labelled signing Joshua Quarshie 'massive' and 'rapid' (Image: Southampton FC/FC)

"There's a great scouting system and network at the club, and Johannes has set that up really well. They are identifying talent," explained Still.

"They are identifying good players that fit into what we want to try and do and there's just an honest conversation at the end of that.

"Should we go for it, should we not go for it? The squad that was here was incredibly big anyway and it's already been trimmed down quite a bit.

"That's a good thing, and it will keep happening. We need to reach a number that gives us a bit of balance in training and to create fair competition.

"But we don't need a major overhaul of the squad. It doesn't need to be like a major thing," added Still. "A transfer window is what it is.

"I think it's the same in pretty much every club. There will be interest for our best players. There will be interest for new players coming in.

"Everyone just wants to get the balance right and if we do that, which I'm sure we will do, then we'll be in the right place for the new season."

One of the questions most frequently asked by supporters when we told them we would be speaking to Still was about Sunday, September 14.

Saints host bitter rivals Portsmouth at St Mary's in the first league derby since 2012, having been in a higher league than them for that time.

Saints thrashed Pompey 4-0 in a Carabao Cup meeting at Fratton Park in 2019, and Still insists he already understands the nature of the fixture.

"I think being in Lens last season and playing the Northern France derby against Lille, when we didn't win it, it annoyed me intensely," said Still.

"But for the first game that I came here against Arsenal, I literally stepped one foot out of the taxi and it was like, 'Oh, we need to beat Pompey'.

"I'm fully aware of that and I understand what the derby is. I know how important it is. We'll build up to that and try to be as good as we can be."