£15m Premier League lone-warrior gives brainstorming task to Southampton | OneFootball

Mateus Fernandes has urged Southampton's squad to reassess their disastrous season after scoring the final Saints goal before the club were officially relegated.

Most Southampton fans would agree that the club's uncompetitive mentality has turned them action-resistant lately. While early these issues were caught on the field, they gradually carried off the field too.

After all, how often does a boss openly admit his helplessness like Juric did or a director give up on one of his club's veteran stars Walker-Peters?

Still, if the off-field collapse felt like it was escalating too fast, Southampton hit a factory reset after a decent game against Crystal Palace. And it's result? A Saints' relegation defeat against Tottenham.

Simply put, unlike what thought, the Saints felt like a one-man army again. And obviously, it was none other than Mateus Fernandes.

As has been Southampton's season summary, the 20-year-old was the lone warrior in a Tottenham battle. So much so that he even sparked faint hopes of a comeback with a stoppage-time goal. But it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.

Now, unlike what would have been much more feasible, Fernandes didn't let his frustration out post-match, instead, he left the fans and teammates with a tricky task.

Fernandes shows commendable leadership amidst relegation time

As quoted by the Daily Echo, Fernandes said: "(This is) a very difficult time for everyone, a time to self-criticise and see what went wrong."

Now, here's the truth is, you won’t fully grasp the 20-year-old’s quiet leadership unless you really dig beneath the surface.

Interestingly, this way, not only Fernandes has asked for self-introspection on the players' individualistic values but also given his complacent mates a brainstorming work to improve themselves ahead.

But the question remains, till when can the £15m newcomer carry the club's burden himself only? Just imagine what if his recent Liverpool rumours prove true this summer.

Well, even thinking this scenario would scare Saints fans, let alone it becoming the reality.

Let's hope Mateus Fernandes continues at Southampton in a prominent leadership role next season, given he remains the only hope for better things to come at St. Mary's.