Tonda Eckert details why Southampton have improved all of a sudden (it's not tactics)

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert hails player chemistry and a united dressing room as the key ingredient in the club’s 16-game unbeaten form.

Southampton’s emphatic 5‑1 victory over Wrexham at the Racecourse has done the Saints the world of good. Not only has it positioned them strongly for a playoff spot, but it also helps break the awful streak of dropping points after Cup wins.

Before the game, Ross Stewart’s concern about the post‑Cup hangover was seen as a real threat to Southampton’s playoff momentum. But Tonda Eckert’s side responded with a statement performance to extend their unbeaten streak to 16 games.

It’s no secret that 13 wins and 3 draws against Championship and Premier League opponents took immense backroom work from the club. While all those factors are well appreciated, Eckert recently hinted at the secret ingredient behind the club’s success.

Eckert was recently asked about Kuryu Matsuki and Flynn Downes’s reaction to the FA Cup win over Arsenal. The duo were particularly discussed, given they were suspended for the game despite being likely starters.

As quoted by the Daily Echo, Eckert responded: “They were buzzing after the game, it just shows where the team is at the moment. I think we’ve just come a lot closer together in general as a team, as a football club, and it just makes things a lot easier.”

Southampton’s team chemistry has been key to success

Southampton’s remarkable second‑half turnaround is largely credited to Tonda Eckert’s man management. Perhaps his biggest achievement at the club has been bringing the group closer together and elevating everyone’s on‑field impact.

That was evident from Kuryu Matsuki and Flynn Downes’s reaction. Instead of feeling gutted about missing the massive win over Arsenal, they put collective success above individual merit.

Comparing this situation with the prevalent scenarios at Southampton points out the massive improvement in the club’s chemistry.

Notably, Southampton were fighting relegation last season. Their results did them no favours, and a disjointed dressing room only aggravated the club’s problems.

Reportedly, key starter Flynn Downes had a 2–3 week standoff with then‑manager Ivan Juric. If such feuds weren’t enough, experienced Saints like Joe Aribo publicly acknowledged how embarrassing it was to be fighting against Derby’s record 11‑point Premier League total.

Squad cohesion wasn’t emphasised at the start of this season either. Ex‑boss Will Still resorted to heavy lineup changes after every poor result, leading the newly overhauled side to focus more on individual starting spots than building chemistry with new teammates for collective benefit.

On the other hand, Southampton stand more united than ever under Tonda Eckert. Apart from reintegrating left‑out players like Sam Edozie, his ability to keep everyone content with their game time has fuelled the club’s unprecedented success.

Saints’ togetherness helped them thrash Wrexham 5-1 away

Like every club, player duos and trios are common at Southampton. Some combinations that have lit up the campaign include Léo Scienza and Fin Azaz, Taylor Harwood‑Bellis and Jack Stephens, and the wing‑back duo of Ryan Manning and James Bree.

While those partnerships have single‑handedly won crucial points, it was Southampton’s brilliant chemistry on full display in their statement 5‑1 victory over Wrexham in the playoff decider.

Eckert’s decision to start Scienza on the bench meant the attacking trio of Edozie, Azaz, and Matsuki started together for just the second time this season. But instead of being a limitation, the call paved the way for victory.

It gave Scienza a well‑earned rest after his heroics against Arsenal, while Edozie’s fluidity in driving forward and combining with Azaz and others offered Eckert a new option at his disposal.

The trio’s maverick display up front saw Southampton 2‑0 up within the first 22 minutes. A fightback in a six‑pointer was never going to be easy, and Scienza’s return in the second half killed whatever hopes Wrexham had left.

Another fascinating aspect of the win was that Southampton finished the game with five different players on the scoresheet. While it speaks to their attacking prowess, the Saints having multiple scoring options is why they’re now being hailed as promotion favourites.