Mauricio Pochettino pledges to stay at Southampton

Mauricio Pochettino has no plans to step down from his position as Southampton manager despite the resignation of executive chairman Nicola Cortese.

Pochettino’s future at St Mary’s was thrown into doubt on Wednesday when Cortese left the club with owner Katharina Liebherr taking on the role of non-executive chairman.

The former Espanyol coach had previously stated that he would walk away if the Italian depart, but he has assured fans that he is ’100 percent committed’ to the Saints.

“I want to show my gratitude to Nicola Cortese. I believed in him, he brought me here, my staff and my family. I am full of gratitude to him,” he said.

“Eight months ago when this happened we were finishing my first season and I did say that if he left there would be no sense for me to stay.

“The new situation is different. We are in the middle of our new project. Nicola knows of my decision to stay; I have spoken to him. I am fully committed to the staff, the players, the club and it would make no sense to leave in the middle of our path.”

There were suggestions that a number of players would leave the club following Cortese’s departure, but Pochettino is adamant no-one is for sale.

“I want to make one thing clear – no-one is for sale at Southampton,” Pochettino said.

“No-one. My viewpoint hasn’t changed from a week ago. No player that I don’t want to leave will leave.”