ORIOL Romeu admits he has a point to prove at Stamford Bridge when Saints take on Chelsea.

The defensive midfielder arrived at St Mary’s in August, following a four-year spell at the Blues.

Chelsea signed Romeu from Barcelona in 2011, but injury hampered his progress after initially impressing – winning the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup – and was sent out on loan to Valencia and the Stuttgart before being allowed to join Saints.

The 24-year-old wants to prove what he’s capable of to Mourinho, who deemed that his talents could be put to better use elsewhere, when Ronald Koeman's side visit today.

“When Jose (Mourinho) came in they told me – I was coming back from an injury – and it was better to get some games on my legs and to keep going,” Romeu said.

“In case things were going well, I had the chance to come back.

“So I went to Valencia and Stuttgart in Germany and after those two seasons, I was looking for something permanent, for something more to be there longer than I did.

“If all had of gone well, I would have stayed (at Chelsea), obviously, and if things would have gone better I would have rather stayed than go to another club.

“But sometimes that happens in top clubs.

“They’re looking for top players and when you come out from an injury or they have some kind of doubt on your game, you just have to move on and prove what you’re able to do.”

Romeu, though, has no axe to grind with Mourinho and is glad of the fresh start at Saints.

“Well he’s a leader, he’s the boss and everyone knows that in the club, he’s a very good guy,” he said about the Portuguese manager.

“Personally, he just tells you the truth and doesn’t hide anything.

“I think it’s important to have this kind of personality in football because sometimes it is not like that.

“So he’s a guy that tells you about those things and what he wants from you, so that is important I think.”

The Spaniard, who has made eight appearances for Saints so far, is now settled at St Mary's and wants to get as much game time as possible.

“All I want to do is play,” he said. “The way we play also helps me a lot because we want to keep the ball, we want to play between the lines and I feel good, I feel comfortable here.

“We have very good players in the middle and also in every part of the pitch, but for me the main objective is to play as many games as I can.”