There are more question marks around the future of Claude Puel than there should be, but still the doubt persists. Taking over at Southampton from Ronald Koeman last summer, as the club once again parted with some of their best assets, Puel certainly hasn’t had a disaster of a first season in English football.
A cup final, and a finish which could realistically be anywhere between 8th and 15th, Puel has settled in well and worked to settle the Southampton squad and bring some good talent in.
Still, some fans have been disapointed and that led to suggestions in France that Puel may not return to Southampton next season. At the time it seemed like an assumption, there was absolutely no suggestion of Southampton looking to fire Puel, or him spitting his dummy out.
Despite the lack of a concrete reason, the doubt continues, and French newspaper L’Equipe believe Puel could be a serious candidate for Saint Etienne. Long term manager Christophe Galtier is leaving the club in search of a new challenge, and picking his replacement is hugely important.
Puel is named as a candidate and his tenure at Southampton is described as ‘not being safe’.
What may have understandably annoyed a section of Southampton supporters is that they’re level on points with Bournemouth, albeit with 2 games in hand, but surely their South Coast rivals are an example of the benefits of sticking with a manager long term.
