Southampton Are Fully Deserving of a Champions League Place

Southampton should not be an underestimated team any longer. Their league record this season speaks for itself, and it does so in impressive volumes. Gone are the days of their tag as a surprise candidate with bags of potential. Instead, they are now a settled unit with motivated players, a proven pedigree and big ambitions to make it into the Champions League.

Ditching their original three-year plan, brought to the fore by Ronald Koeman, to eventually qualify for Europe's most celebrated club competition, they've managed to prematurely steer themselves on course for one of their biggest club achievements. Undoubtedly, it would exceed their most recent silverware triumph when they won the Football League Trophy back in 2010.

Most importantly of all, however, they've shown everybody just how worthy they are of a Champions League place by allowing their football to do the talking. And with such persuasive pontificating on the pitch, they've convinced many nonbelievers.

Vastly altered from last season and with a whole host of their best players shipped off for tidy sums during the summer, they saw their nucleus diminished in double-quick time, as the likes of Calum Chambers, Luke Shaw and Rickie Lambert all decided to move on.

In truth, their adversity in the face of wholesale changes has made their consistently bright performances even more admirable. And they currently look excellent value to achieve something extraordinary. 

However, their ability to redevelop and grow quickly in the wake of vast changes is not a completely new coping mechanism; it's a characteristic that has taken years to develop and perfect. As ESPNFC.com's Jake Cohen pointed out back in 2014, they've been doing it for years. And they seem well suited to continue to deal with their limited resources.

Dusan Tadic, Shane Long and prolific striker Graziano Pelle have all been revelations this season after coming in during the last transfer window. Stepping up to the plate with panache and confidence, they've done more than fill the shoes of the departed players. Upholding their traditions, they've continued to ensure the club outdoes itself.

And it's that ability that should see them overcome most of their fellow challengers in the hunt for a Champions League spot. Manchester United, Arsenal and even Tottenham Hotspur remain in close proximity, but they don't look comfortable with their weaknesses. The Saints, on the other hand, do.

Utterly changed, many imagined they would struggle. Not so. They've used their new makeup as useful camouflage. Stealthily stalking the behemoths, they've cut them down in the long grass with a deadly touch.

In the aftermath of their 1-0 win over United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon—their first at Old Trafford since 1988—the narrative was one of disbelief. Some focused on how the Red Devils had been so wasteful with their handful of half-chances. Manager Louis van Gaal even claimed his side were the better team on the day. 

According to Charles Perrin of the Express, the Dutch boss was adamant that his men were the victims of a cynically negative game plan by the visitors.

"We played a much better game than Southampton," he said. "They were lucky to score out of nothing. That is very disappointing. We didn't create so much but we dominated the game. They came for a draw, I believe, and they go away with a victory, that is disappointing."

His comments, though expected, seemed incredibly harsh on the visitors. The truth is, Southampton played a cautious game. In the Theatre of Dreams, the onus was always going to be on Van Gaal's side to be more proactive, but they were far from dominant. And the team from the south coast of England made them pay with a well-taken goal. 

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After all, Koeman's charges were more clinical. Recording one fewer shot than the 2012/13 Premier League champions in total, they managed to at least stick one of theirs away. They also defended to a much higher standard and weren't afraid to play the ball competently out of defence—a testament to their growing confidence.

It was an intelligent performance from an intelligent team. 

And the ironic contrast between the two clubs' fortunes couldn't have been clearer when the shrill final whistle sounded.

United, who have long been used to winning the highest honours there are, had been careless with their chances not only on the field but off it too. 

Having spent in excess of £150 million already, they've done their best to throw cash at their problems. On the other hand, the Saint Mary's faithful have enjoyed watching their club revert back to basics to hew their way out from testing surroundings.

In short, The Saints have proved more than any English club that they possess the necessary guile to succeed with what they have this season. Before the season began, they modelled themselves as champions of clever frugality, something that earned them widespread ridicule. But they've since outmanoeuvred many of their "superiors" to climb atop the debris.

Now, they're on the cusp of an unrivalled triumph. 

On current form, they're one of the best teams in the league. In fact, according to the Official Premier League website, they're behind only Manchester City in the form guide. Possessing one of the meanest defences in the league with just 15 goals against, they're on a par with La Liga leaders Real Madrid in terms of goals conceded.

That's an achievement that would have seemed beyond impossible before a ball had been kicked back in August.

Add to this the fact that they've already mixed it with—and beaten—some of the best teams in the country, and it's clear they are worthy of a place in Europe's elite club competition. Far from wilting against the league's most intimidating clubs, they've tasted memorable results against Chelsea and Arsenal as well.

These results prove that their capacity to outperform the big guns is not just a flash in the pan. And with their inner belief continuing to grow, the sky is the limit. 

Arguably, facing an easier run-in than United, Arsenal and Spurs could make all the difference as the weeks tick by. On present form, the only two matches they might lose are against Manchester City and Chelsea. Apart from those, however, they look good enough to maximise their points return in the coming months.

As for their nearest challengers, they all must face one another and do battle with the reigning champions. And with the Red Devils still a tactical conundrum, Arsenal overly reliant on Alexis Sanchez and the Lilywhites too unstable, we could see the gap grow even wider as May edges ever nearer.

At the end of the day, while some dissenting voices may beg to differ, Southampton look the real deal. Their continued surge toward European football promises to be enthralling viewing.