Ronald Koeman has insisted it will still be a fantastic season for Saints even if they fail to make the Europa League.

Saints go into their final day game against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday with Liverpool and Tottenham in their sights with that pair facing trips to Stoke and Everton respectively.

If they can climb above either of those they are guaranteed a Europa League spot. If they remain seventh they are reliant on Arsenal winning the FA Cup.

Koeman said: “A massive disappointment not. That’s because still it’s a fantastic season what we did.

“Of course it makes it more special if we reach Europa League football.

“If we win on Sunday I think that means we will be fifth or sixth in the league because I think the other teams not all of them will win a difficult away game.

“I don’t think that they will win both against Stoke away or Everton away, but ours maybe is the most difficult.

“We beat Man United, we had a draw against Chelsea. Why we can’t win against Manchester City?”