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Southampton boss Ronald Koeman: 'Top-four finish not realistic'

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman dismisses talk that his team will be pushing for Champions League football this season.

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has dismissed talk that his side can finish in the top four of the Premier League this season, despite their impressive start to the campaign.

The Saints lie in second place in the table after five games, but the Dutchman said that Champions League ambitions are unrealistic at this stage.

"It isn't realistic" he told reporters. "We have played only five games in the Premier League and at the end of the season are 38.

"We know it's a long season, it's a tough season. Okay, we know we have a very good start and, of course, after the win of last Tuesday, the expectations of the fans and of the press is much higher than it was before the first game.

"But it will be more difficult and we have to realise that and to keep going."

Southampton play host to Queens Park Rangers this weekend.

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Southampton player Victor Wanyama celebrates with team mates after scoring the first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Southampton at Liberty Stadium on September 20, 2014
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Ipswich TownIpswich432611685533289
2Leicester CityLeicester422841079384188
3Leeds UnitedLeeds43269876344287
4Southampton42259884543084
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4320121166422472
6Norwich CityNorwich432181476601671
7Hull City421811136254865
8Coventry CityCoventry4217121366521463
9Middlesbrough43189166156563
10Preston North EndPreston43189165660-463
11Cardiff CityCardiff43185204860-1259
12Bristol City431610175046458
13Sunderland43168195250256
14Swansea CitySwansea431411185362-953
15Watford431216155958152
16Millwall431311194255-1350
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn431310205771-1449
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth431212195866-848
19Queens Park RangersQPR431211204057-1747
20Stoke CityStoke431211204160-1947
21Birmingham CityBirmingham43129224864-1645
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield43917174770-2344
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds43128233667-3144
RRotherham UnitedRotherham43411283285-5323


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