The new Saints manager has been speaking to the press ahead of his first home game in charge of the team and it couldn't be much tougher with Arsenal as the visitors.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has spoken on five key points in his pre match Press Conference
Team news:
"We have good news that there are a few players who are coming back this week.
"Danny Ings, Shane Long and Cedric Soares have all trained twice this week and once with the whole squad.
"Jack Stephens has a little problem with his knees and we can’t see at the moment how bad it is.”
2. Cancelling the players' day off:
"It’s been an interesting week which started with cancelling a day off on Monday.
"We met to speak about our contents and what we want to change on the pitch.
"The players appreciated that, and I think we spent this time well to perform better on the pitch.”
3. Training with intensity:
"On Wednesay, we had two hours training and it was very intense, both physically and mentally.
"It is to try and get the new content into their minds.
"It’s all about building up the basics and not the fanfare.
"The basics should always be the same. Being close to each other and trying to keep the distances between the players the same.”
4. Fixing the players' mindset:
"For us it’s important that we become a team that isn’t easy to play against.
"It was too easy for us to let goals in the last time.
"The fixtures we are facing now aren’t the easiest but it’s also a big chance for us to surprise everyone.”
5. As A Team:
"I know Aubameyang from Germany and he is showing that he is one of the best strikers in Europe.
"You can’t defend in a one v one situation against them, you need to do it as a team.”
"I think it’s not so difficult to get a good atmosphere in St Mary’s. It needs one chance against such a team and they are immediately behind us and help us,”
"That’s what we try to do from the first minute on, and it’s really all about being brave and also have good ball possession and good decisions and deep runs, good transition after winning the ball, transition not only at the back but also the front.
"For us it’s important that we should become a team that is not easy to play against.
"It’s right that the fixtures we are facing now are not the easiest but it’s a good chance because nobody expects us to beat Arsenal. But I see a chance to make a surprise for everyone.”
A focused view from the Saints manager and to be blunt I have learn't more from this conference than I learn't from Mark Hughes in his entire time in charge, gone are the banal comments , perhaps Ralph Hasenhuttl may not turn out to be the manager we have all hoped for, but form his first week in charge he certainly offers a lot more charisma, passion, honesty and hope than the last three we have had and that has to be a good thing.