Ronald Koeman says Saints will ditch their attractive footballing style if it means reaching the group stages of the Europa League.

Saints take on FC Midtjylland at the MCH Arena tonight in the second leg of the play-off round with the match level at 1-1 after the game at St Mary’s.

With Midtjylland dropping deep to defend in numbers, Saints enjoyed a lot of the ball in the first half last week, but in areas that didn’t hurt the Danish champions.

They started to get far more joy in the second period when they abandoned their usual style and played a more direct game.

 

With Koeman fully expecting Midtjylland to use similar tactics tonight, he is prepared for Saints to go long if needed.

“It is all about two games, two results, and you want to play always attractive football but the main thing is to win the game and how is not important,” he said.

“I think the second half we demonstrate the way how we have to play and how we have to make problems for them.

“Maybe in several moments to play more direct, we had a lot of ball possession in our own half first half and the time that we had a little bit more pressing, better pressing, then we were the better team on the pitch.”

Koeman really doesn’t expect many surprises from Midtjylland tonight, with the Danes almost certain to defend in numbers, be well organised and hard to break down, as well as running the clock down from the start.

They know a goalless draw would see them through to the Europa League group stages draw, which takes place at midday tomorrow, on away goals and so the pressure is on Saints to score.

“We know how they play, we know what the strengths are of the team,” reckoned Koeman.

“One thing we know we have to score and we can’t defend a result, we have to go for it and we will go for it.

“That means that we have to win the game or to draw the game but more than 1-1.”

He added: “They don’t have reasons to change because they scored an important away goal, they had a good result.

“I think I expect the same opponent in the way of playing and the strengths and the weaknesses what we saw last week.

“I think finally we had to win the game because we had the best chances to win.

“If we play on our level then I am confident to reach on in the Europa League.”