ESPN Brasil today features a story with Southampton’s ‘cult hero’ Guly do Prado.
The former midfielder, who played for the Saints between 2010 and 2014, gave quite a long interview about the time he spent at the club, where he played in League One, the Championship and the Premier League.
A very interesting part of the conversation is regarding his relationship with former Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Even though Guly has shown big respect for his ex-boss, he makes it clear that the coach didn’t treat him in the best possible way around the time he left the club.
“I was trained by Pochettino between 2013 and 2014 and I learned a lot from him. He was one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. But, as a person, I can’t say much good, because it left something to be desired with me in some things,” Guly told ESPN Brasil.
“I don’t have to say anything bad, because he was a great coach. With him, I improved my football and everything I learned I implemented later. He was very important in my career. My departure from Southampton was a little sad. Pochettino was a good coach, but as a person he was not excellent.
“I never gave him a problem, I always respected him. I had a conversation with Pochettino and he liked what I said. But when he had to help me, he didn’t help me. All I needed was a ‘yes’ from him to renew my contract.
“He already knew he would leave Southampton, because he had had a great season and Tottenham were watching. So he failed me in that matter. It was all because of my age, because I learned later that he didn’t like old players.”
“When he arrived at Tottenham, by the way, he sent almost all the older guys away, like Adebayor and several big players. I believe he could have been more loyal to me.”
Guly do Prado joined Southampton in a move from Cesena in 2010.
He first joined the Saints on a loan deal in the summer that year, and then the move was made permanent for €600k.
In his four years at Southampton, he had 23 goals and 15 assists in 118 appearances.
The lack of a contract renewal indeed had a great impact in his career, because following his departure from St. Mary’s he ended up moving to the MLS and then returned to Brazil, where he retired in 2019.
