Southampton vs Inter Milan - Ward-Prowse relishing Southampton's Europa League clash

Posted Thursday, November 03, 2016 by PA

James Ward-Prowse believes Southampton have earned their glamour Europa League home tie against Italian giants Inter Milan and challenged everyone to rise to the occasion.

Ward-Prowse, 22, came through the Saints Academy before breaking into the first team when he made his debut in a League Cup tie in 2011.

Having been part of the club when it dropped down to League One in 2009/2010 amid financial turmoil before then fighting back up to the top flight again in 2012, Ward-Prowse knows full well what such a fixture will mean to everyone at St Mary's.

"It is going to be a great occasion. The club has worked incredibly hard for nights like this and we as players, the manager and staff want to be involved in games like this. A lot rests on the game, so bring it on," Ward-Prowse said at a press conference.

"Having been at the club for a long time, obviously I have seen the growth of the club on and off the pitch.

"Being a player here, it is great to see the rise of the club and it was a great feeling at the San Siro.

"This is a great game against a European giant and we will be looking to make sure we come out on top."

Ward-Prowse added: "The fans stuck with the club through thick and thin, through the bad times and these are the good times now.

"A few of them would have been travelling to League One fixtures, and now we are hosting Inter Milan in the Europa League. We have a chance to qualify and hopefully they can get behind us to see us over the line."

Southampton lost 1-0 in Milan last month, which left them in third place in Group K, but only a point ahead of the Italians.

Saints boss Claude Puel admits it is something of a strange scenario to be playing a team in such an important tie just days after seeing head coach Frank de Boer sacked.

"It is always a shame when a coach does not keep his place, but for us it is important to maintain good concentration on our game," the Frenchman said.

"Of course it is difficult for us to prepare for this game because we don't know what to expect in terms of the profile, the spirit, the system of play (from Inter).

"But we are sure that they are great players, they won the first game while struggling and that is the quality of the players they have."

Inter Milan's interim coach Stefano Vecchi has admitted the pressure is on following the departure of de Boer.

"I am sorry for Frank de Boer, for solidarity with a colleague," Vecchi said in his press conference. "The relationship between the first team and the youth team was good. Unfortunately these things happen in football."

With regards to the future, he said: "I do not know what will happen. I am the coach of Inter and thank the sporting director Piero Ausilio for the opportunity. What happens next is not important.

"What is important is the game tomorrow night, without looking too far ahead. We often talk about the future but we have to live today and tomorrow you can decide what is next."