Armel Bella-Kotchap has been speaking to the media in his native Germany about his exclusion by Russell Martin and his immediate future at St Mary's after the arrival of Ivan Juric as the new Saints manager.

The Daily Echo have been reporting on Bella-Kotchap's to the German media outlet Bild in which the players has spoken of intensive talks with Southampton's hierarchy and he has been assured that new manager Ivan Duric will give him the chance to rebuild his career at St Mary's.

Bella-Kotchap told Bild.

"I moved to PSV Eindhoven on loan after the relegation from Southampton in 2023.

"There I had an injury and never really got into the step. When I went back to England in the summer, the coach preferred to rely on the promotion team.

"He didn't like that I wanted to leave after the relegation but I wanted to take the next step at the time, which I thought was right.

"With these two views, we never really got together. I have been talking intensively with the club managers for the last two days.

"They assured me they care a lot about me and that I get my chance under the new coach. I know that I now first have to fight back into the team.

"I'm burning for that. But it is also important for me that I re-set the environment in my situation. I have to bring my performance, I can't influence more."

Saints supporters have long thought that Russell Martin had his favourites and also those that he would not play.

Bella-Kotchap added:

"I also want to make myself interesting again for the national team. I want to get to where I've been before as soon as possible.

"I like it here in England, I make no secret of it. I would like to assert myself in the Premier League. But I don't want to close doors either.

"My willingness to move to Hoffenheim has shown that I can imagine the Bundesliga very well. This continues to apply to my future."

Whilst the St Mary's faithful will not be impressed to read that the German International did not want to play in the Championship, he was far from being the only member of the squad who felt that way, some ended up staying and others went out either on a permanent basis or on loan and the likes of Tall Paul Onuachu for instance have returned and shown fight and he in particular has turned the supporters opinion around on him.

The player has also had interest from German club's before leaving for PSV in the summer of 2023, including Borrussia Dortmund & Bayern Munich, showing how well thought of he is in Germany.

That makes it even more frustrating that having returned to the club and shown willingness to play, that Russell Martin completely ignored him, whilst it is understandable that Martin should wish to give his promoted side a chance, it was clear from early on that the defence was a shambles and constantly getting caught out, a good football manager will use the players he has to hand, not show favouritism.

Given that Martin played him for 26 minutes at Cardiff, it was clear he was fit, but was ostracised by the manager for no real good reason other than he had gone out on loan, comparisons can be made to Jan Bednarek who at the start of 22/23 season went on loan to Aston Villa, but returned in the January and put in a shift ironically alongside Bella-Kotchap to try and save Saints from relegation, he showed that he could rebuild his reputation with Southampton supporters, so I see no reason that Bella-Kotchap should not be given the same chance.

Of course Bella-Kotchap has to put his career first and he has been open that he may yet move in the January transfer window, but as it stands he is ready and willing to play and hopefully Ivan Juric will give every player a a chance equally and do what is best for the club and play the best players and not have favourites.

All Photos Via Reuters

DellBoyWally added 10:31 - Dec 24 Short memories. ABK was an error waiting to happen, his game full of slips at crucial moments, missed tackles. A German JS!! And his injuries! And then deciding he didn't want to play for us. He gets sent out on loan and repeats his errors and gets dropped before getting injured! He's back here because we couldn't sell him! Nobody would pay for him! So don't blame the manager. ABK refused to play for us thinking he was too goid for us. But I haven't seen club's clamouring to buy him! Now because he finds himself stuck here he whinges.

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DellBoyWally added 10:31 - Dec 24 Short memories. ABK was an error waiting to happen, his game full of slips at crucial moments, missed tackles. A German JS!! And his injuries! And then deciding he didn't want to play for us. He gets sent out on loan and repeats his errors and gets dropped before getting injured! He's back here because we couldn't sell him! Nobody would pay for him! So don't blame the manager. ABK refused to play for us thinking he was too goid for us. But I haven't seen club's clamouring to buy him! Now because he finds himself stuck here he whinges.

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SanMarco added 10:58 - Dec 24 I'm not really bothered that he didn't want to play in the second division - but that's a strong clue as to his future with us - May at the latest, if someone will have him. And they are more likely to have him if he plays over the coming weeks and plays well. Unlike Wally I actually think he showed some promise. We, of course, need to move on from RM but this story does confirm one of the idiocies at the heart of his regime. It was his job to get as many points as possible for our club. Instead he picked second-raters because he liked them. We see the result in the current league table. I am not saying we would have been doing an awful lot better without such lunacy but I reckon we would have more than 6 points. Sunday wasn't pretty but it was a point and how often have we been genuinely entertaining under RM this season??? Happy Christmas to Nick and to everyone on here. Let's hope 2025 is better than the latter half of 2024 - it couldn't be any worse ----- could it?

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Flamingbankers added 11:44 - Dec 24 I thought, and was told 'online', that Armel had a heart condition and that's why he was rejected by Hoffenheim (after a medical). If that's the case, maybe that's why he wasn't picked or attracted any transfer attention. Strange that Nick, or anyone else, doesn't mention this. Does he have a health problem or not?
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Bowlercow added 11:58 - Dec 24 Bankers spot on I remember a go stop transfer near the end of the window I was actually glad he didn't go because I think he is a good player and certainly a better cb than J S Reads the game and is quick to intercept The one thing I am hoping for from Ivan is that JS is cast into the wilderness
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kenis added 14:00 - Dec 24 @flamingbankers ABK didn’t fail his medical because of a heart condition, I think he failed it because of his shoulder or another injury at the time the medical. In an RM press conference at the time he said the heart thing was a private matter that should not have been disclosed or linked to the medical stating it was identified some time ago - so all potential buying clubs were pre aware - and dealt with / being monitored/managed and should not be seen to impact ABKs career or fitness to play. Implication was they tried it on with the fee and/or the current injury he was recovering from. Whatever went on or not with RM and his picks - whether favouritism or tactical or character preference - it was completely up to him who he picked and who he trusted and he was the one best placed compared to anyone in or outside the club to make it and he carried the consequences of those actions. It’s always been so and should be - eg I remember whenever Telfer was in the line up, especially out of position, there were groans and sniggers about him being a strachan favourite / mate (they used to drive down from Coventry together apparently) plus more recently Nathan Jones implied he’d compromised on his choices based on other voices and once that starts any managers authority is gone. That being said - it should also be clean slate for everyone from ABK to Lesley to Cornet to BBD to Smallbone. Let’s just hope Juric can find a combination he’s happy with, whoever it includes!

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Colburn added 19:45 - Dec 24 The reason his heart wasn’t mentioned is because it’s irrelevant. For example Eriksen collapsed on a pitch and had to be revived yet the bionic man plays for Man Utd, albeit not so well due to his age. I don’t think many players who have broken into the German national team would want to play in the Championship if they could go elsewhere, still in a top league. As for not playing in u21’s, maybe not the wisest decision if getting fitter would help but if the manager has made it clear you’re not in contention for the first team then I don’t blame him for that. He deserves another chance after playing so well when he first arrived and every player should have an equal opportunity with a new set up. I agree with Nick. On another note, is the Duke arriving next Wednesday from Brazil?

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WestSussexSaint added 19:55 - Dec 24 Trouble is that this is one side of the story. I’m sure RM sees it a different way. RM is gone so ABK now has a chance to prove himself to the new manager. Let’s see what happens if/when we are relegated in May and whether ABK still wants to play in a Saints shirt next season.
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