Southampton's Tumultuous 2024/25 Campaign: An Honest Appraisal
Football frustration leads to a temporary break for Southampton player, opting to savor holiday season instead.
After a disappointing 2024/25 season, Southampton fans had little to celebrate as the team succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal at home, bringing an abysmal campaign to an end.
Promoted back to the Premier League the previous year, the Saints managed a miserable 12 points throughout the season—only one point more than Derby County's record low of 11 points, set in 2007/08[1]. In addition to their dismal points total, Southampton racked up a series of records, survived two managers (Russell Martin and Ivan Juric), and ended up literally at the bottom of the league.
That said, there's some hope on the horizon. Will Still, ranked 8th on our website's list of the best English managers in football at present, has been appointed to rebuild the team in the Championship.
A Frank Assessment from Mateus Fernandes
It seems that relief from the 2024/25 season extends beyond the Southampton fanbase, as one star player has offered a candid reflection on the campaign.
Midfielder Mateus Fernandes joined Southampton last summer, appearing 42 times for the club in all competitions before venturing to the European Under-21 Championship with Portugal. There, Portugal's defeat in the quarter-finals at the hands of the Netherlands was a timely reminder of the harsh realities of sports[4].
Speaking to Portuguese outlet Record following the loss, Fernandes was forthright and frank about his experience during the season[3]. "It was a wretched day, but that's just the way football goes. We missed our chances; they took their only opportunity and scored," he explained.
Turning his focus to the season as a whole, he continued, "It was a thoroughly exhausting season for me—I'm just about done with football. An endless string of defeats. A year of learning. Nothing more."
Fernandes, who signed with Southampton for a reported £15 million last summer[1] and is currently valued at €15 million according to Transfermarkt[1], has reportedly attracted interest from other clubs in light of the team's recent struggles[2]. With 16 Portugal U21 appearances to his name, 4 goals during his Southampton tenure, and a year of Premier League experience, Fernandes will likely have no shortage of potential suitors[2].
For now, though, the player has decided to take some time off and enjoy the holidays, hoping for a brighter response at the next Euros.
[1] Base Article[2] Enrichment Data (Selected Portion)[3] Enrichment Data (Added Context)[4] Enrichment Data (Expanded Perspective on Portugal's Loss)
"Despite the unfortunate end to Southampton's 2024/25 campaign, Mateus Fernandes, a midfielder who joined the team last summer, has expressed his frustrations about the season in an interview with Portuguese outlet Record. In the interview, Fernandes shared his experiences and spoke about the exhausting nature of the season, noting that it was a year of learning and defeats."
"Furthermore, despite the struggles the team has faced, Fernandes' impressive performances for Southampton and Portugal's U21 team have garnered attention from other clubs, suggesting a potential move in the future. As he takes a break and looks forward to future opportunities, Fernandes may find solace in the fact that his skills have not gone unnoticed, even in the midst of sports-analysis of a disappointing season."
