Saturday 31 January 2015 16:21, UK
Southampton have the mentality to continue their push for the top spots in the Premier League, says striker Graziano Pelle.
After a summer of upheaval at St Mary's with a new manager and top players leaving, few would have given them a chance of securing a place in the Champions League, but Ronald Koeman has steered them to third place ahead of their Super Sunday clash with Swansea.
Pelle, signed from Koeman's former club Feyenoord, believes the squad have the capabilities to carry on their wonderful run.
"I believe a lot in the mentality of the players," Pelle said.
"We have to be realistic and see the players that we have - a lot of players. It's not just two players also. It is on the bench. We have big, big names.
"We have to be proud about ourselves and try to reach the best we can. Be realistic, but still try to reach. We are not afraid to be there on top. We just have to enjoy the moment and be focused to keep it."
His goals may have dried up recently, but Pelle has netted 12 times already and his great start to the campaign resulted in a first Italy call-up, for whom he marked his debut with the winning goal.
Pelle is hoping to make the Azzurri squad for Euro 2016 - an ambition he believes he can achieve thanks to the support of Koeman, under whom he netted 50 league goals at Feyenoord.
"I knew that I had someone in front of me that trusted my quality, and I had the confidence in myself," added Pelle.
I know that I could do even better. My way is always to improve and to try to be better in the next games
"Then, after, I score a lot of goals. On one side, he say thanks to me and I have to say thanks to him. Then it's like a kind of connection between each other.
"He knows that I am an intelligent person and he knows when I'm doing something wrong he doesn't need to explain everything - he just tells me a few words that let me understand that 'Graziano, you are not in the right way, because I know you.'
"This I like, because we can have an easy connection between two persons that are honest with each other. He gives me the opportunity and I have to show [for him]."
Pelle will lead the line for the Saints when Swansea arrive at St Mary's in Sunday's late kick-off, a match live on Sky Sports 1.
Without a Premier League goal since December 20, he said "I know that I could do better, actually. I know that I could do what I'm doing now, but I know that I could do even better.
"My way is always to improve and to try to be better in the next games."
Watch Southampton v Swansea, live on Super Sunday on Sky Sports 1 from 3.45pm
