Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino demands more attacking prowess from winger Nathan Redmond following player's intense chat with Pep Guardiola on Wednesday night

  • Mauricio Pellegrino wants Nathan Redmond to be more aggressive in attack
  • Redmond was involved in an animated chat with Pep Guardiola on Wednesday
  • Pellegrino thinks Redmond can still find another gear in attacking positions
  • Southampton travel to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday

Nathan Redmond can still be more 'aggressive' in the final third, according to Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino.

Redmond found himself locked in an animated full-time discussion with Pep Guardiola after Manchester City edged out Southampton 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Guardiola has since admitted he harboured regrets over the incident, with the Football Association asking for his observations on the issue.

Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino wants Nathan Redmond to be more lethal in attack

Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino wants Nathan Redmond to be more lethal in attack

Redmond downplayed the discussions in an official statement and Pellegrino refused to become embroiled - but ahead of Sunday's south coast derby at Bournemouth, the Saints boss admitted the former Norwich forward can still find another gear in attack.


'For sure it's something we were talking about, in the last few weeks, that we can work in the way we attack and he and others can be more aggressive in the final third,' said Pellegrino.

'For sure, Nathan for me is an important player for us, hopefully he needs just small steps to improve a little bit.

'He still is very young, but the offensive job is not about one player, all of us we have to improve.

'For me the goalkeeper is also important in attacking style, and my strikers are important in defensive style, all of us are responsible.'

Redmond was involved in an animated chat with Pep Guardiola on Wednesday night

Redmond was involved in an animated chat with Pep Guardiola on Wednesday night

Pellegrino thinks Redmond can still find another gear when he gets into attacking positions

Pellegrino thinks Redmond can still find another gear when he gets into attacking positions

Southampton will give striker Shane Long a late fitness test over a calf problem, but full-back Cedric Soares will miss out with a hamstring problem.

Pellegrino confirmed Jeremy Pied will slot into the starting line-up, backing the 28-year-old Frenchman to thrive on a rare start for Saints.

'Jeremy Pied will play,' said Pellegrino.

'I feel most of my players are ready to play right now.

'Jeremy has trained well, he's one of the examples in the squad in the way that he trains every single day without being on the list for most of the games.

'And it's really difficult to keep the motivation, and he will have the opportunity to show how he's keeping it now.

'When you play one game in 15 it's not easy, but the team will try to support him to try to play well.

'I told him that he will play because I feel he's ready to do it, prepared to do it; well prepared to do it.'