Southampton fans 'deserved better' - Scienza

Southampton winger Leo Scienza believes that Saints fans "deserved better" after the club were expelled from the Championship play-offs.

On Wednesday night, the EFL announced that a league arbitration panel had dismissed the club's appeal against the sporting sanction.

This means that Saturday's Championship play-off final will be contested between Hull City and Middlesbrough at Wembley Stadium.

Scienza was the first Southampton player to post on social media after the club were removed from the play-offs.

"Disappointment, anger, sadness. It's difficult to find the right words for what we're all feeling right now," he posted on his instagram account.

"What has happened over the last days is heartbreaking. For the club, for every player in this dressing room, and above all for our supporters. A moment like this should never end the way it did.

"I feel sorry for every football fan, as well as the players and supporters of Hull and Boro, who were caught up in all of this chaos too.

"We gave everything for this dream. Day after day, sacrifice after sacrifice, always believing we could bring this club back to where it belongs. For me, the dream of playing in the Premier League was something I fought for with everything I had. That's why this pain cuts so deep."

Scienza has played a key role at Southampton this season, joining in the summer from Bundesliga club Heidenheim, and having a big impact on the pitch.

The Brazilian registered seven goals and ten assists in his debut campaign and was named player of the season by both the Saints fans and his fellow players.

This move to the south coast of England has been his first venture into English football having previously played in Germany, Sweden, Uruguay and Brazil.

He has developed a special connection with the Southampton fans this season, becoming something of a hero at St Mary's and often seen as one of the last players to leave the field after a game following a long lap of appreciation.

Perhaps his most memorable moment with those fans from the season, was when he scored the goal to fire Saints ahead in January's south coast derby at Fratton Park.

The winger ran the entire length of the field after scoring, back to the travelling Southampton fans to celebrate as his side took the lead against their bitter rivals.

Having been part of the team that lost to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi final, Scienza said that he was bitterly disappointed not to be returning to the national stadium with the Saints fans this weekend.

He previously admitted that it would have been a "dream" to play at Wembley again and achieve a personal goal of playing in the Premier League.

"The hardest part is knowing how much our fans deserved this moment," he added.

"You stood behind us all season with incredible passion, loyalty and belief. Even in the toughest moments, you carried us forward.

"Thank you for staying with us through everything, you definitely deserved better."