Ralph Hasenhuttl
RALPH Hasenhuttl eases early expectations on big character and “long-term project” Lyan and insists: “He will definitely make a lot of games with us, a good signing for the future.”
Asked about new-boy Lyanco ahead of the West Ham contest up next in the Premier League,
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “Yeah, I mean as always for us new signings are long-term projects and that’s what I told him. His English is not the best so far, he has to learn it. But he is willing to learn and all the rest he has to learn, he will. Very good character and yeah, big personality and very happy to have him here. Ori is at the moment our translator, my Italian is not that good but I try to speak with him, especially in a football business there is some words I don’t know. But yeah he will learn English and he will definitely make a lot of games with us, a good signing for the future.”
Lyanco made 23 appearances in Italy’s top-flight last season, with his last match coming in a 0-7 demolition at home to AC Milan in May.
He has experience playing in a central-defensive trio at Torino and after Hasenhuttl switched to a similar shape during the Manchester United draw, perhaps when the Austrian boss next opts to move to that formation will be when Lyanco gets some action in a Saints shirt.
The 24-year-old Brazilian centre-back arrived from Italian Serie A side Torino towards the end of the summer transfer window, in place of Jannik Vestergaard, but don’t necessarily expect to see him in immediate action. He has already looked to make himself a fan favourite with regular social media posts of him enjoying life at his new club, although supporters will want to see his passion matched by on-pitch performances. Saints manager Hasenhuttl has so far opted for Jack Stephens and Mohammed Salisu as his two centre-back positions, while Jan Bednarek has been reduced to an appearance from the substitutes bench.
