Southampton's first-team lead coach Ruben Selles has admitted that he wants to become the club's next manager and believes he is ready to make the next step in his coaching career.
The 39-year-old has been placed in temporary charge for Saturday's trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea following the dismissal of Nathan Jones last weekend.
Jones spent just three months in charge at St Mary's and lost seven of his eight Premier League games in the dugout, leaving Southampton rooted to the foot of the table and four points adrift of safety.
Southampton were understood to have identified former Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch as Jones's successor, but talks with the American broke down earlier this week.
There has since been speculation suggesting that the Saints may consider handing Selles the vacancy on an interim basis until the end of the season, but the Spaniard has expressed his desire to take the job permanently.
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Despite not turning 40 until June, Selles already has a vast amount of coaching experience under his belt, having previously been an assistant for clubs in Russia, Greece, Azerbaijan, Denmark, Spain, Norway and England.
Selles, who arrived at Southampton from Copenhagen in the summer of 2022 to become Ralph Hasenhuttl's assistant, has acknowledged that he has felt "ready" for some time to make the next step and become a first-team manager.
Asked at a press conference on Friday if he wants to succeed Jones as Southampton boss, Selles said: "Yes, I want to be the manager. I think I'm capable of doing that as any other [candidate], but it is not my decision.
"It's okay for me, I just put in everything that I can. I have the team now, we're working really hard to do our best, and those are my skills. The club will have the patience to make a decision and they will, but of course I would be happy to do the job.
"I have been feeling ready the last four years, so it's no different now, it's just the scenario is bigger than it was before."
Reacting to the dismissal of Jones and the club's search for a successor, Selles added: "I don't want to make any judgment about the club's decision, that's the first thing. Obviously, I have been part of the setup of the last two managers and when they sack a manager it is always difficult for everybody. So surprise or not, it's the decision that the club made and I respect it.
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"Last time it happened with Ralph I told the players from the very beginning that I know that sometimes these situations are temporary, but I'm going to take things as if I'm here for the next ten years, so I need everybody to follow and work as hard as you can in that direction. From the security man in the house to the captain, and that's what we've done.
"We always know there is a lot of noise around it, but there has been clear communication between me, Martin [Semmens] and the club, and it's just simple because we focus on what we can do, and we don't focus on anything else."
Despite their current predicament, Selles has also heaped praise on the first-team squad at his disposal and believes his "amazing" group have what it takes to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
"I think this group is amazing. Our target tomorrow is to show an identity, be a unit and make the game as hard as possible for Chelsea," said Selles. "I think we have a group that can stay in the Premier League."
Southampton head to Stamford Bridge on Saturday after losing nine of their last 10 Premier League matches, but the Saints can be quietly optimistic for their clash with Chelsea having already beaten the Blues this season, securing a 2-1 home victory back in August.
Oliver Thomas
