Morgan Schneiderlin has been upbeat talking to the press ahead of Saints trip to the Emirates Stadium this evening to take on Arsenal.
The Frenchman seems to have a quiet confidence about Saints chances and seems to be impressed by what he has seen of Ronald Koeman so far.
"It’s a surprise to have got off to the best ever start in the league after going through so many changes in the summer,” Schneiderlin said.
"The coaching staff changed and a lot of players left, so of course it’s great for us to be in such a good position after five games.
"Every manager changes the style when they come into a football club.
"It’s different to Pochettino, we don’t press so high and so hard during the game and we are more controlled in defence.
"We’re winning at the moment but we need to keep going and I know the gaffer wants to address some things.”
It seems the change in playing style isn't the only thing that has changed, with Schneiderlin revealing that the players themselves have a different attitude to doing well in the domestic cup competitions than the one they were encouraged to have under the former manager.
"Why can’t Southampton win a cup this season? Anything is possible.
"We’re going to go to Arsenal, play our game and do the best we can.
"The players at this club want to do something great in the cup, it’s very important to us.
"It’s the shortest way to get into the Europa League, which would be great for the club and for the fans.”
This statement perhaps reveals more than any other about the way the club is now focused, this time last year all the talk was of the Champions League and it was this or bust for Pochettino and his Chairman, now the manager and players seem to have a more realisitc view, they see the Capital One Cup as a route into Europe and a step forward, they seemto view the League more realistically,perhaps realising just how hard it would be to break into a Champions league place and the need to build steadily in that area.
Either way its refreshing news and although Im sure that Morgan Schneiderlin still harbours hopes of playing at a big club, that can only be good for Saints as firstly a player with ambition is always good and secondly as he has shown so far, hopefully as he strives to show the world he is good enough for a bigger stage, his form can only benefit Saints.