Saints have been charged with a breach of EFL regulations after being accused of spying on a Boro training session ahead of the Championship play-off semi-final.

It is alleged a member of Southampton’s staff was discovered recording the session at their Rockliffe Park training base.

The incident, which has echoes of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds spying on a Derby training session in 2019, has overshadowed Saturday’s first leg at The Riverside.

Speaking ahead of the match, which finished as a goalless draw, Hellberg said: “There were people there trying to find a quicker solution than working hard. That’s the way.”

Asked by Sky Sports how he felt about possibly being spied on, the Swedish coach replied: “Possibly?”

He added: “(It has) not affected our build-up. We have done what we should have done before this type of game.

“We have watched every Southampton game there is, trying to find different solutions to beat them, how they press, how they build up, working hard with that.

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“Putting every hour of the day to try to do what you should do, to get the advantage to win in the right way.”

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert remained tight-lipped on the controversy.

“I believe the club has made a statement yesterday and that’s all I can say at the moment,” he said.

“I believe if you come to the stage of the season, it’s not coaches winning the games, but it’s the players and that’s going to be exactly the same today.

“We are focused on ourselves and we have been all week.”

The EFL charged Southampton after a receiving a complaint from Middlesbrough “relating to alleged unauthorised filming on private property”.

Southampton would normally have 14 days to respond, but the League has asked an independent disciplinary commission to hear the charges “at the earliest opportunity”.

Saints said in a statement on Friday night: “We can confirm that we will be fully cooperating with the League throughout this process.”

Leeds were fined £200,000 after boss Bielsa sent someone to watch Derby train in 2019, and the Argentinian paid the fine himself.