RYAN Manning became the butt of the joke when he inadvertently gave summer signing Yukinari Sugawara a new nickname in Girona.

Under the duress of an intense small-pitch game, Manning desperately demanded the ball from 'Tsuki' loud enough for the whole pitch to hear.

"WHO?" was the swift response. Tsuki briefly became Sugawara's new call-sign and the squad laughed at Manning's expense while he tried to justify it.

It was an insignificant and largely meaningless moment but it did capture the light-hearted spirit within the group, including new signings. 

Manager Russell Martin and assistant Matt Gill led the morning exercise, which lasted for just over 90 minutes in the Spanish sun.

The backdrop to Southampton's pre-season trainingThe backdrop to Southampton's pre-season training (Image: Alfie House)

Martin told the Daily Echo: "We're never dictated by just physical load and numbers, it's always about what do we need tactically, what's the important message for them?

"Is it a day where they just need to work and have nothing to think about, or do we need to nail down some tactical points because we didn't like what we saw the day before? 

"Today, because we really liked what we saw yesterday and how hard they worked, we have to have that in consideration."

Saints undertook a lighter morning session on Tuesday with all the focus on the ball, as they hit the pitch for the fourth time since landing on the continent.

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Pyrenees mountains, temperatures were kept to a moderate 26 degrees before ramping up by midday. 

Southampton's players begin their training sessionSouthampton's players begin their training session (Image: Alfie House)

A group of 29 players began the morning session while Jack Stephens and Adam Lallana did individual work in the gym. 

Players started with their usual activations at 9am, warming up in the gym and on the side of the pitch before getting the balls out at 9:30am.

Jan Bednarek has made a fast start to life on his return from EURO 2024 duty, gleefully declaring himself "so quick" as he completed the drill.

By 9:50am, Saints moved into some one-two passing drills and the famous rondos five minutes later, gearing up to the most enjoyable bit.

They played a small-pitch game in a box roughly half of a half of a pitch, with three teams indicated by different colour bibs.

Two teams play with goals at each end while the third team surrounds the pitch, ready and instructed to make themselves available and pass the ball back into play.

Small-pitch games produced the most entertaining moments (Image: Alfie House)

This was where Manning called Sugawara 'Tsuki', and where Paul Onuachu was struck in the face by a ball on the third header attempt in quick succession.

Assistant Matt Gill was leading this exercise from the middle of the pitch, while Russell Martin could be heard giving his usual adulation.

"Remember the day that Kyle Walker-Peters lost the ball," he shouted, as the Championship team of the year defender was tackled. 

The fun only lasted until 10:20am, before Martin and Gill instructed Saints into shape work - with two XIs for the Bordeaux game read out.

Each training session ends with a huddle and debriefEach training session ends with a huddle and debrief (Image: Alfie House)

Martin then actively walked and talked through the shape and system in various actions, with players standing to attention in their respective positions on the pitch. 

"We wanted a bit of tactical stuff for the game tomorrow with both teams. We never stop that work, especially with the new guys," Martin said.

"We try and utilise the time in the best way we can. For set-plays, we had a meeting about it before to make sure we start getting the principles in clearly for the new guys."

Martin called the session to an end and the players cycled back to the hotel to prepare themselves for the second session in the evening.

Their hotel is only a five-minute ride from the training pitch - players and staff alike hop on their bikes as a group with the kit van coming up the rear.

A view of the air-conditioned gym available to the players pitchsideA view of the air-conditioned gym available to the players pitchside (Image: Alfie House)

Colin Calderwood became a principal figure for the second session - a tactical set-piece focus - starting at around 5:20pm when the temperatures cooled.

He began the setup as two XIs were split into two groups - Calderwood actively talked them through defensive set-pieces while Gill took charge of attacking.

Southampton staff set up the evening sessionSouthampton staff set up the evening session (Image: Alfie House)

Five players worked individually - Bednarek, Kyle Walker-Peters, Juan Larios, Paul Onuachu and Ronnie Edwards. It looks likely they will not play against Bordeaux.

Martin said: "Paul's just come back, Juan's returning from a long injury, we spoke about Kyle the other night, Ronnie had a tight quad and Janny has just come back."

After seven minutes, the XIs swapped over and were drilled in the opposite school by either Calderwood - up close and directing - or Gill.

Colin Calderwood's defensive set-pieces sessionColin Calderwood's defensive set-pieces session (Image: Alfie House)

Walkthroughs continued past 5:45pm but attention turned to setting up from throw-ins - Martin and Gill pride themselves on their throw-in record.

Saints were among the top teams for retention from the dead ball situation, with the intention of every action coming planned and not erratic.

New signing Charlie Taylor told the Daily Echo: "It's probably not the most enjoyable thing to do in training but it's absolutely vital.

'Especially in the Premier League, set-pieces are going to be huge - if you can gain any margin or advantage you have to take it." 

The players were called in for a debrief with Martin at 5:51pm, with some words on the week of work so far and a view to the game ahead.

Sam Edozie and Joe Aribo take shelter from the sun at the end of the daySam Edozie and Joe Aribo take shelter from the sun at the end of the day (Image: Alfie House)