Alex McCarthy Southampton
ANGRY Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl did not hold back in his criticism of goalkeeper Alex McCarthy as Saints threw away two points against Brighton. Saints only used two subs during the game, so could have introduced substitute Harry Lewis to replace McCarthy, with Fraser Forster already ruled out through injury. Lyanco took a late goal kick due to McCarthy’s struggles, but Hasenhuttl says he was not aware of the full extent of the problem.
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “Alex must be here definitely more professional and this is what I missed today in such a game. Yes, it is hectic in the end and everything but this is reason why I sometimes change a little bit later, because especially in such a game, you have seen today when you change too early, suddenly one man down. It was an intense game, it can always happen, something in the end. Very often we were discussing that I change a little bit later, but today I had one change and we couldn’t take it because he didn’t say anything. This is for me not acceptable. This was the reason why we couldn’t play out anymore in the second half. But I didn’t know how tough it (the injury) is. I thought he could only not play long balls so I kept him in goal. If I could do it again, I would change it, but I couldn’t because I didn’t have the message that it was not possible any more.”
Asked if he feels McCarthy should have informed him of the severity of the injury,
Ralph Hasenhuttl added: “Yeah. That’s the reason why we have a substitute goalkeeper on the bench. This is no problem. He made a big save before. This is where he kept us the three points at first but then when he thinks he cannot jump in the corner from a free-kick then I think it is tough.”
