Jack Stephens will captain Southampton on Sunday in the Championship play-off final against Leeds United.
Captain Jack Stephens emphasizes that Southampton will approach Sunday’s Championship play-off final against Leeds United as if it were any other game. The match at Wembley Stadium determines which team will be promoted back to the Premier League, following Southampton’s relegation last season. Despite the high stakes, Stephens insists that maintaining a routine is crucial to avoid pre-match disruptions.
“I’m more excited than nervous, but there’s definitely a few nerves driving me to perform well,” Stephens told the Daily Echo. “We’re treating this match similarly to any other league game. The manager believes this approach works, so we won’t change our training or preparation. Consistency has brought us success, and we plan to maintain that.”
Southampton heads to the final buoyed by their semi-final victory over West Bromwich Albion. After a goalless draw in the first leg, they won 3-1 at home, with goals from Will Smallbone and a brace from Adam Armstrong. Although the team celebrated their semi-final success, their focus quickly shifted to the final against Leeds.
“It was an incredible feeling after the semi-final,” Stephens said. “We enjoyed the moment together, but we also knew there’s still one more game to go. We balanced celebration with preparation for Sunday.”
Stephens acknowledges the significance of playing at Wembley but stresses the importance of focusing on their performance. “The occasion is massive, but we need to separate that from the game itself. Our focus is now on executing our game plan. If we do that, we stand a good chance of winning.”