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Ronald Koeman: 'Southampton lead the way for smaller clubs'

Ronald Koeman believes that his Southampton side can inspire the Premier League's smaller clubs to challenge for a place in the top four.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has expressed his belief that his side are blazing a trail for the smaller clubs in the Premier League.

The Saints are currently third in the table, despite being tipped for a season of struggle before the campaign began.

Koeman, whose side are now looking to secure a Champions League place, thinks that the South Coast outfit can inspire the rest of the pack to chase the league's big spenders too.

"Normally the big teams have the most possibilities to have the best players, but it would be good that a team out of that will fight for a high position," he told the Daily Star.

"Last season it was Everton, who were fighting for that position. It looks like now that we are the team who will fight for that position.

"That's good because it makes changes and it's good for the rest of the clubs. That's the achievement of the whole club who makes that great."

Southampton beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0 on Saturday thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Saido Mane.

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Ronald Koeman manager of Southampton looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Leicester City at St Mary's Stadium on November 8, 2014
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Group A

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Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

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Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

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Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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