LONDON – Southampton head coach Russell Martin praised his team's performance as they beat Leeds United 1-0 in the Championship play-off final on Sunday and said their promotion back to the Premier League will make him “cry To love is”.
A goal from striker Adam Armstrong in the 24th minute was enough to secure Southampton's return to the top flight of English football in what is being called “the richest game in football”.
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Russell has experienced notable success in his first season since joining south coast club Swansea following their relegation at the end of the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.
His empathetic management style has helped him forge a close bond with his players and he expressed his delight at seeing them lift the Championship playoff trophy on the balcony at Wembley.
“Watching them from the field celebrate that together is, yeah, it will live with me forever,” Martin said in a postgame news conference. “As a group of players and young people, they have been incredible.”
“What they've done and how much they've grown together in terms of spirit and togetherness. I thought that was probably going to be the hardest thing at the start of the season when I saw how much the group had been fractured and not united, and all that after relegation.
“So to see them enjoy it, to see them show the love that they show for each other every day and how they've been this week, the feeling that they've had and how together they are has been incredible.
“And I hope we can keep as many members of that group together as possible. Afterwards I told them, 'This is football and this will be the last time we're all together as a group because things change. People will.' move on.'
“So, for them to really enjoy it like I hope they are, yeah, I'll probably end up alone in bed tonight, crying and feeling nothing but love for them.”
Martin also thanked Southampton's owners and the club's former director of football, Jason Wilcox, who defended his appointment before he left to join Manchester United in April.
“I feel immense pride in what we have achieved, but I am grateful to the owners who gave me the opportunity in the first place. [And] jason [Wilcox]that he had a good day here yesterday and he's gone,” said the 38-year-old coach.
“But I feel it was not a sexy appointment for Southampton Football Club and they were brave enough to give me the opportunity and I hope I have repaid them with a day that they will remember forever and it has given me one of the best days of my career, without doubt.”
Meanwhile, Leeds manager Daniel Farke lamented his team's lack of attacking threat during a defeat that consigned them to another season in the second tier.
“We are obviously suffering a lot right now and deeply disappointed that you are so close after a fantastic season with 90 points,” Farke said.
“[We had] Very good playoffs in general, then it was the final average. [semifinal]played two games against Norwich [City]… Nowadays we can't really say that we are the worst team in this final and losing this final hurts a lot.”
Leeds have never promoted through the playoffs, falling short in six of their campaigns, and Sunday's defeat set a new record for the number of finals lost by a club (four).
Farke was left to rue his team's lackluster performance in front of goal as his normally powerful attackers failed to find a way behind Southampton's defensive line.
“It must be said that Southampton first defended very well and were a little more clinical than us. [They were] a little bit more effective and it was the reason we lost the game,” Farke said.
“Again, congratulations to them and all the best in the Premier League, but as you can imagine, it hurts a lot if you're just one step away from being allowed to celebrate and then you have to travel, so you're disappointed. Yes, it hurts in this one. moment.”
