Matt Targett feels Southampton must qualify for the group stage of the Europe League as they may not have a big enough squad to embark on another European adventure next season.
The Premier League side needed a penalty from Jay Rodriguez, his first goal since March 2014 after returning from a serious knee injury, to draw 1-1 with Midtjylland in the first leg last week.
Former Southampton academy player Tim Sparv had put Midtjylland in front, but Rodriguez's spot-kick denied the Danish champions a surprise victory.
Southampton will still be favourites to progress at the MCH Arena and teenage full-back Targett, given his chance in the absence of the injured Ryan Bertrand, is determined to avoid an early European exit.
"Obviously in the first half against Midtjylland we didn't play to our usual high standards," he said.
"In the second half we came out fighting and really took the game to them, getting the important goal that we needed. We go to their place confident we can get the result we want."
When asked about Southampton's chances of qualifying for Europe again this season, the 19-year-old said: "I think it will be much tougher this season.
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