Leo Scienza reveals how he really feels about Tonda Eckert after Spygate | OneFootball

The Brazilian has given an honest assessment on his head coach.

The Spygate saga divided many, but the consensus was that Southampton got what they deserved when they were expelled from the Championship play-offs.

Tonda Eckert was found to have played a central role in the organisation of watching rival teams' training sessions, and he is due to face punishment following an FA investigation that has charged him with three breaches of rule E3.1.

Earlier in the summer, Saints owner Dragan Solak backed Eckert and claimed that he would remain in charge next season as long as he learns from his mistakes.

Now, one of Southampton's star players, Leo Scienza, has revealed exactly how he feels about his head coach after what transpired.

Southampton's Leo Scienza speaks openly about Tonda Eckert after Spygate drama

Heading into the play-offs, Saints were many people's favourites after an astonishing turnaround under Eckert that saw them go 19 league games unbeaten heading into the lottery.

Scienza, who joined the club from German side Heidenheim in the summer of 2025, played a central role in the South Coast club's revival, scoring seven and assisting 10 times across the season.

Following Southampton's expulsion from the play-offs, there has been speculation around the futures of some of their key players, with the Brazilian linked with both Tottenham and Leeds United, although that has since gone quiet.

With the Championship season fast approaching, the forward has now spoken about his feelings towards Eckert following what unravelled at the end of the last campaign.

“We were all very angry, disappointed and also frustrated," he told Transfermarkt.

"In such a moment, many thoughts go through your head. Honestly, I can't remember every single conversation anymore. Of course, we talked about it as a team because it affected each of us.

“The financial [aspect] was completely irrelevant for us players at that moment. It was not about the money, but about the chance we had earned on the pitch. We had given everything and worked for this opportunity – and in the end it was taken away from us. That was what hurt the most.”

Can Saints reach Premier League next season?

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Southampton are going to face a hostile reception wherever they go next term, and that is something they are going to have to deal with if they are to achieve promotion.

One of the other hurdles that they are likely to face is that they will have to play a series of matches without Eckert on the sidelines, although it is not known if and how long that will be for.

Of course, there is also the possibility that they would have to make do without him entirely, as there is a chance he could be banned from all football activity for a period of time.

However, if Saints' players are in the correct headspace, then they must be considered serious contenders not only for promotion but for the title.

In Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Shea Charles, Finn Azaz and Scienza, the South Coasters possess some of the division's game-changers, and as long as the club can keep most of them, then they will cause teams all kinds of problems.