Ronald Koeman: Even Barcelona couldn't prise me away from Southampton

Eyebrows were raised by some last summer when the Dutch great took the reins of what many expected to be a sinking ship.

Koeman, though, has been revelation in his first season in English football, not only steering Saints to calmer waters but new heights.

Only a point is needed to break the record Premier League points tally set last season under Mauricio Pochettino, who returns to St Mary's for the first time since leaving last summer when Tottenham arrive on Saturday.

The former Saints boss is unlikely to receive a particularly warm welcome at St Mary's after jumping ship - something Koeman has told fans he would not do this summer.

Asked this week at a Barclays Q&A event what he would do if Real Madrid came calling this summer, the Dutchman said: "Oh, Real Madrid? No, no, no. Not with Real Madrid. Never, never. You can trust me."

When asked what he would say if former club Barcelona came calling, Koeman said laughing: "Oh, you make it more difficult.

Koeman then paused, before announcing his hypothetical decision: "No, I stay."

"I am still young for the manager role. It is good to stay and to be the manager of Southampton," he added.

"It is a very nice experience to be part of the Premier League. It is the best competition in the world and it is nice to be part of that.

"The longest period of my time as a player was at Barcelona and it’s normal that I have that feeling with them and they have that feeling with me, but there is no reason to be afraid about that.”

Koeman then reassured Saints supporters that he will stay for another two years: "I am the manager of Southampton, and I have the contract for two years more. I have to respect my contract, I like to respect my contract and I am very happy."

The Dutchman also weighed in on football philosophy when asked about his influences, citing Johan Cruyff as his "big mentor".

"He showed me the last step from a good player to be a very good player at a high level,” he said.

"It is details; details in a game, tactical details, mentality and personality. Some people as players are interested in tactical things, organisation of things, how they are playing.

"Pep Guardiola was one of them. He was always interested in how Dutch teams, Ajax, play...

"[Jose] Mourinho, I think, is a little bit different,” he added. "He is Portuguese and the way they play in Portugal is different to Holland. I think that is more physical, more about defending.

"I think that the best example was last week. Chelsea and Man United. The philosophy of Van Gaal is really Dutch. To like to dominate, like to play, like to play attractive football and Jose is the result. And not important the way they get that result. There are different ways to be a winner."

Full marks to Koeman for fielding a daft question well, and realising that even a flippant answer in the affirmative would have sent him spinning on an endless cycle of headlines. We all know the truth, however: if Koeman really were to get a job offer from Camp Nou, he'd be out of the door quicker than you can say 'Totaalvoetbal'.