RALPH Hasenhuttl insists luck is “not a parameter” he works with in management but, by any estimation, he has been left short of it this year. Wherever you attribute the blame for a poor run of form resulting in just three wins in 21 Premier League matches, Saints could do without a few things. Armel Bella-Kotchap, the third young player at the height of form to be struck with a serious injury since April, now faces a spell on the sidelines. He joins Tino Livramento, 19, and Romeo Lavia, 18, in the treatment room, both of whom Hasenhuttl is still waiting on to return. I guess it is rather lucky Saints were able to secure the deadline day signing of experienced centre-back Duje Caleta-Car.
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “I still think you can feel that Duje didn’t really play for a long time, not playing much at the end of last season. You can feel he is lacking the rhythm a little or the confidence, and this is what we are trying to build up with him. It’s important for him to show up with the ball and with his aerial qualities. He’s definitely a player we are hoping can replace Armel very well.”
Replacing Bella-Kotchap, although just 20 years old and in his debut Premier League season, will not be easy. Caleta-Car is set for just a second Premier League start, after he stood in for Mohammed Salisu during the defeat to Everton following his Ghana involvement.
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “When you step in a new league and you see the intensity that is there, it is something impressive. Not for every player maybe, but it is impressive when you see the intensity because it is different. The referees let the game run more, more duels are allowed and it is a different, wonderful league I must say. When you watch the games on the weekend you are like ‘wow, this is massive’. This is something some players need longer to adapt to. It’s on us to help him to do it quick.”
Hasenhuttl will not have wanted the 26-year-old, who has more than 300 professional appearances under his belt already, to be thrust into such a big role immediately. After Sunday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham, the Austrian called for Caleta-Car to show his experience and be more vocal in the organisation of the backline.
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “But he was an important signing for sure. I hope to have Armel back as soon as possible, though.”
Hasenhuttl confirmed Bella-Kotchap will be out for at least two or three weeks – and that is if he does not require surgery for his dislocated shoulder. The young German international wants to go to the World Cup, and Hasenhuttl says that could be an important motivation for his recovery.
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “He wants to go there so he will do everything possible to maybe not get the surgery and take the pain. I know the risk is there, this injury can happen again if not fully fixed. This means it is not that easy to say ‘I’ll take some painkillers and go’. We have to be careful and especially if you’re in a position like him where you have duels all the time. You need arms and everything to work with, but I am positive as he is a guy who wants to fight for everything and wants to go for it.”
The Bella-Kotchap situation adds to an already extensive list of issues for Hasenhuttl to deal with, in what could be a decisive few weeks of his almost four-year-long tenure. Saints are already reeling in front of goal after the club failed to secure a striker, which Hasenhuttl had been open about wanting for over a month leading up to deadline day. But Hasenhuttl denies the suggestion he has been on the wrong end of a bit of misfortune since their impressive winter run ended in March.
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “I had one time a manager who said ‘always lucky is quality and always unlucky is not good enough. I don’t take this is a parameter, you try to work your best and to find answers for all the issues. We don’t have an easy job sometimes. When you are flying you don’t need a manager and we had this sometimes here, but when it is harder they need you even more. This is the job and if you want to do this here, you have to know what you get.”
