Southampton’s Russell Martin believes he has learned as much as a manager this season as he has in any previous campaign.
The Saints have picked up just one point in the Premier League this season but qualified for the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after beating Championship side Stoke 3-2 on Tuesday.
Southampton host Everton on Saturday and ahead of this match, Martin said: “I’m learning all the time – I think I’ve learned as much this season as I’ve learned in other seasons and we’re nine games in, so I’m enjoying this side.
“We tried to apply everything we’ve learned so far this season on Saturday Manchester City) and the players did it amazingly well.
“The challenge and learning for us is to try to stay who we want to be and try to improve and be better and try to grow under a lot of attention and supervision. Then the rest will take care of itself and I’m fine and comfortable no matter what.
“I really believe in this group. I really believe in what we’re doing and now we have to put it on the field on Saturday.”
Tuesday’s Carabao Cup winner claimed defender James Bree’s 88th-minute winner and Martin wanted to avoid criticizing his players – after admitting he made mistakes last season.
“I want a better performance,” he said after Tuesday’s win, adding: “I made a mistake last year: we beat Watford at home. [in April] when we were 2-0 up and 2-2 and then we went with Flynn [Downes] I scored in the 94th minute and went to town on the players after the game.
“I think it surprised a lot of them because we were able to win the game, so I learned from that because we didn’t win after that.
“I think it affected us a little bit.”