Southampton fullback Nathaniel Clyne retains hope of manager Mauricio Pochettino staying.
Pochettino is in talks with Tottenham this week.
"For me personally it took my game to another level. It would be a real shame if we were to lose him," Clyne told the Daily Mirror.
"He has been so different to any other manager. He planted it into our heads that even if we were up against bigger teams and bigger players, we could compete at the same level as them.
"He taught us never to fear them or be intimidated just because of their big names or their big reputations.
"He'd have us pressing high, keeping a high line, receiving the ball in difficult situations, keeping possession and basically having the confidence to play football rather than being afraid.
"The understanding in our defence was down to our training. We worked really hard on our fitness and our intensity and it showed in the games."
