Peretz hails collective clean sheet
Daniel Peretz was keen to spread the praise to those in front of him as an outstanding team effort helped Southampton send Premier League Fulham crashing out of the Emirates FA Cup at Craven Cottage.
Ross Stewart scored the only goal of the tie with a dramatic stoppage-time penalty, sending Saints through to the quarter-finals.
Peretz was faultless en route to an impressive clean sheet, but the keeper was quick to point out that the outfield players deserve their share of the plaudits.
“I think a clean sheet is a collective thing – all the team worked for it and each one has his moment; if it’s the way we press, the way we defend, or me – the way I save – it’s a collective thing,” he said, modestly.
“This is the basic for us, to work together as a defence. We know we have the quality to score in every game, so when we put the effort in in defence and off the ball, we will have our chances and we can finish the game. This is the base, and from there we go.”
Peretz admitted Saints knew they would have to be at their best to knock out top-flight opposition on their own patch, but felt the winning goal was coming after seeing his teammates create a series of counter-attack opportunities throughout the 90 minutes.
“I’m really happy and proud for this amazing team performance. I think each of us gave it 110 per cent, collectively and individually, so I’m really happy and proud.
“We respect everyone but we believe in ourselves. We knew that we had a really good opponent today, so we knew that each one of us, and us as a collective, had to be at our best, and we did it, so I’m really happy.
“We played really good against a really, really good opponent with so much quality. We played really good and we had chances.
“When you miss, for sure it’s unfortunate, but it also gives you the confidence that we are in the game, that we are having our chances, we are close, and you feel it can come. On the counter-attack we have the penalty and Ross shoots an amazing penalty. Quarter-final!”
