The Oasis reunion has taken the UK by storm, but you’ll need a little more knowledge of the country’s 1990s guitar music scene to know what Aaron Ramsdale was talking about ahead of Southampton’s Premier League clash with Manchester United.
Ramsdale impressed as Arsenal finished second in the Premier League behind Manchester City in 2022/23 but lost his place as the Gunners’ No.1 to new signing David Raya at the start of last season.
The 26-year-old joined Southampton for £25 million ($32.8 million) last month and is relishing the challenge after making his debut in the 3-1 defeat at Brentford before the international break.
“I’m definitely coming back stronger. Chumbawamba!” Ramsdale told TNT Sport ahead of his start against United.
Ramsdale referenced punk band Chumbawamba and their 1997 global hit, “Tubthumping.” The chorus of that song is, “I’m knocked out, but I get back up.”
“Coming back to the game is what I started doing as a kid. Playing for the love of the game,” said Ramsdale, after being limited to six Premier League appearances last season.
“Getting back to football is the main thing, but I think for me I’m also a happier human being now, going home and seeing my little boy.”
Is Aaron Ramsdale good with his feet?
Southampton boss Russell Martin has committed to playing out from the back, a style Ramsdale enjoys despite losing to Raya partly because of perceived deficiencies with his feet.
“From where I am, that’s what I’ve experienced for the last three or four years,” he said. “It’s a bit different here, every manager is different. The manager here has given me the freedom to play, but if I make a decision and I have arguments to justify it, he doesn’t complain.”
Ramsdale was pleased to have the opportunity to bond with his new team-mates during the international break but is keen to return to the England fold after being a regular in the squad under Gareth Southgate.
“It was disappointing not to be called up, but at the end of the day I spent 10 to 12 days with my new teammates and really built a great relationship,” he added.
“My goal is not really to come back to [the England squad]. My aim is to win football games here at Southampton and play well. If we can do that, I think football will take care of itself and I think I’ll be in the team.
“It’s never nice not to play for the national team. That’s where I want to be during the international breaks.”
