Leicester And Everton Not Better Than Southampton Insists Ex-Saints Star | OneFootball

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Southampton are level with the likes of Everton and Leicester City in the Premier League in terms of their ability and need to focus on finishing above them, Jo Tessem believes.

Russell Martin’s side have made a dismal start to their Premier League campaign as they have lost seven of their first eight matches, with a 3-2 loss this weekend against Leicester City a further blow.

They made multiple signings in the summer transfer window but have not been able to perform consistently yet in the top tier of English football.

Tessem feels the Saints do not have the amount of Premier League-level players they need to compete.

However, the former Saints man stressed that Everton, Leicester and Ipswich are not better than Southampton and the side must focus on competing against those clubs in the battle to survive.

“I said it earlier, this is the best league in the world”, the former Southampton man said on BBC Radio Solent.

“We do not have the amount of Premier League [level] players to be able to compete in this [league].

“This is a tough world to compete against, but we have go to compete against the teams, that are equal to us.

“And that is the Ipswich, that is the Leicester and it is Everton at the moment, maybe Wolves and Crystal Palace.

“Those [are the] teams; if we can get ahead of those, you will still be a Premier League team and that is the aim in my eyes.”

Saints’ journey in the league gets only difficult as they face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad on this Saturday.