Ralph Hasenhuttl has spoken ahead of the game against Liverpool, see what he has to say and whether we at TUI agree with his opinions.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has spoken to the press ahead of the visit of many Saints fans 2nd most hated team, here is what he had to say and our view.
On his team's reaction to losing at Burnley...
"We had an intense week, a busy week. I think everybody knows we can do it much better than we did after 60 minutes in Burnley. Until that moment, it was a similar game to the season before, where it was tight and with chances for both sides, and we scored then.
"This time, the opponent scored, and this time we didn’t do what we were supposed to do. We were very critical of ourselves and will try to show we can do it much better, and I am sure we will show a reaction."
TUI Comment:
Ralph is right, it is easy to judge the Burnley game just on the scoreline, but that doesn't tell the whole story, for the first hour we were in the game and had started to look like we could win it, then came defensive errors, however they were the same errors from the same players that have been happening for a while now, all the work in training will not change a thing, we needed an experienced central defender and didn't get one and paid the price in the opening game.
On the response in training this week...
"I think they saw that to win a game in the Premier League it’s important that if you make mistakes you try to help each other.
"After the first goal it’s not finished, but then we gave it away, and the second and third goals killed the game. It’s important to keep the game alive in those situations and give yourself a chance to come back. It's not easy, but there is the chance if we stay focused and play like the first 60 minutes, but we didn’t. It was two easy mistakes and then this game was gone.
"We tried to push the game away in the beginning of the week, we cancelled the day off on Monday, and analysed and worked in our minds, so that we could focus from Tuesday on the new games ahead. That’s the reason I don’t want to speak too much on the old one, and rather focus on the new one where the challenge is big enough. We need all the energy we have for this game."
TUI Comment
Ralph is again right we need to focus on the next game, it is one that we can influence that result, we cannot alter the result at Burnley, only look at where we went wrong.
On the players brought in during the transfer window...
"I think the options we have, we made the most out of it. We know that it is not so easy for us to get players in, that are possible for us to buy and help us immediately.
"We try to bring young players in who have good talent and we want to work with them hard, so they get better and better. That takes time and doesn't happen in one day, but after a few times working with us you can see a development in a good way and this is the way we want to go.
"We try to sell players and with this money try to get players. As you see, the prices are rising in the Premier League, but we are happy with the players we have got, who we know fit perfectly to our philosophy and shape. Now it's up to us to make them better and for them to adapt to our game. Ché Adams has the advantage that he could work six weeks with us. The other guys will take a bit longer, but that is nothing surprising.
TUI Comment:
Every Saints fans know that no matter how many players we signed in other positions, the one that we really needed was a central defender and one that has experience. We didn't get one and the same things that have been happening for nearly 3 years still happened at Burnley.
We perhaps need to break our own player policy here, get in an old head by having a look at what central defenders are out of contract so therefore can be signed, ironically our old loanee Martin Caceres s one of those available,we could do worse than bringing him in.
On the prospect of further outgoings...
"There are still a lot of possibilities for the players. Most of them maybe on loan, but I think the best thing for the players and us would be something permanent, because that helps both sides more. There is still a way to go in European transfer period and let’s look at what happens.
"As always the most important thing is the best for us and the players, and if we find the package for three sides — also the club who wants to have the players — the best transfer can happen, and otherwise they stay."
TUI Comment
Saints are paying the price for putting certain players on high wages, we are not the only club to do so, we just need to do what we can, there s no use moaning about it, what's done is done.
On Liverpool going to extra-time in the Super Cup on Wednesday...
"I heard the message from Jürgen [Klopp] that he thought we would celebrate they played 120 minutes. I was happy they were playing longer, but mostly because it means I have more pictures to show my players.
"Liverpool played last season 13 times during the week and at the weekend they won 11 and drew two. This team has so much quality and Jürgen tries to put maybe a little bit of excuse in the fitness from his players, but I think he doesn’t have to as they have so much quality. 120 minutes on the Wednesday, and they can still come here and make a good game.
"But it doesn’t really interest me, because we want to show a reaction. My players really like to show up and show that we can be a more difficult to play than we were last week, and this is the plan we have.
"I expect the best possible Liverpool team you can imagine and that is who we are preparing for."
TUI Comment
We totally agree with Ralph here, concentrate on what we have to do, issues the opposition have can have an affect, but ultimately we only win games if we focus on the job we need to do and actually do it for the full 90 minutes plus injury time.
There is no doubting this will be a tough one, but we have a better squad than last season so there is cause for optimism not pessimism.