This Year We're Off To Sunny Spain ! Y Viva Espana
Saints will be heading for sunnier climes to prepare for the trip to Wembley and it brings back memories of 1976.
Of course back in 1976 not many teams went on mid season breaks abroad, Saints destination prior to the 1976 FA Cup final against Manchester United was Frinton On Sea in Essex rather than the sun of Spain as it will be next week.
Claude Puel will give his squad four days off after the win over Sunderland and then the real preparation will begin starting with a four day trip to Spain, in contrast Manchester United have to play three times in the build up to the final including two games against French side St Etienne.
Puel commented.
"We are going to take first of all these days off we deserve and after we got to make a training camp together to prepare this game and to find good condition also with calm and quality.
"We get to prepare this game and we know it’s a fantastic and exciting game.
"We are not the favourite of course but we know in football all is possible and we see this against Liverpool. "
It is ironic that Saints are off to Spain because one of the songs in the Saints supporters repertoire ahead of the 1976 FA Cup final was based on a hit at the time called Y Viva Espana which older supporters will recall with horror.
The song's opening line was changed from "This year we're off to sunny Spain Y Viva Espana" to "This year we're off to Wembley Y Viva Southampton"
So perhaos that Saints are off to sunny Spain ahead of another meeting with Manchester Unexcited at Wembley could be a good omen
What to read next:
Time For The Spirit Of Southampton Football ClubRecent months have seen a number of events and issues divide opinion and split the supporter base but as we head towards the play offs it is time for everyone at Saints to kick in the same direction.
A Rough Guide To Leeds UnitedA big big game for just Leeds now, although by Saturday the odds on them going up automatically might have changed slightly so here is all the info for those travelling Saints fans who are still going,
Southampton Should Not Fear Anyone In The Play Offs.The hope of getting back into the Premier League automatically has long gone, but the season is not yet over and we now have a good chance of getting to Wembley and going up through the play offs, here we look at who we could meet.
Southampton V Stoke City The VerdictThis should have been a celebratory day for Saints fans, there should have been a feeling of positivity, but the truth is that the fight has been knocked out of the supporter base and we go into the play offs with confidence both on and off the pitch at a low ebb.
Saints V Stoke City A Look Back In Pictures 2In the second part of our pictorial look back at some of our games against Stoke City from the past, here we look back at more recent games, so most of you would have been at them.
Southampton V Stoke City The PreviewSaints go into the last two games of the season with their hopes of automatic promotion ended, even the hope of finishing 3rd is only a point away from being ended, but they do have something to play for and that is getting back the togetherness, character & fight Russell Martin has recently be moaned.