Toda Ekert stated that the players are ready and will give their all in the upcoming match against Middlesbrough.

Toda Ekert says his Southampton are as well-prepared as possible for the Championship play-offs. Southampton finished the regular season with a 3-1 away win against Preston on Saturday, extending their unbeaten league run to 19 games.  

With approximately 5,500 fans having traveled 500 miles to Deepdale Stadium to cheer on their team, Toda Eckert believes the squad is in a favorable position for the upcoming two-legged semi-final.  

Toda Ekert, speaking about the fans' support, said: "We need this support now more than ever. We will fight with all our might on the pitch. I believe the fans will also be there to cheer us on from the stands, and when we are united, this season will be very difficult to beat."  

"The players are already in preparation mode, and it can be said that the preparations are quite thorough. Next, we will use the next two days to recover our physical condition and adjust our mental state, and then we will give our all in the match against Middlesbrough."  

Toda Ekert views the play-offs as a new stage of competition and believes that the team's recent good performance, including reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, will make their opponents wary.  

He added, "I don't think many teams want to face us right now, thanks to the consistent performance of our players every week. The regular season is over, and the next three games will be a completely new phase of competition. We will make sure we are fully prepared."  

Image source: Internet/Southampton official website