Virgil van Dijk admits Southampton’s players were stunned when former manager Ronald Koeman left the club in the summer and has laid the blame on his own employers for losing him.
Koeman returns to St Mary’s on Sunday afternoon for the first time since he opted to leave the south coast with a year remaining on his contract for Everton.
The Dutchman had wanted to remain at Southampton for the final 12 months of his deal.
Chief executive Ralph Krueger was desperate for him sign an extension but Koeman was left unhappy with the offer.