Brendan Rodgers trusts that the Leicester City trio appearing in a clip shared on social media were not partying after the club’s exit from the FA Cup. Brendan Rodgers said: […]
JUBILANT Ralph Hasenhuttl claimed that victories such as Saints’ last gasp win away at Tottenham was “why we love this job”.
The Austrian was in a very happy mood after his side fight back to win 3-2 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
What made the win even more impressive is that Saints came from behind twice – with Armando Broja’s first half-equaliser followed by headers from Moi Elyounoussi and Che Adams.
During the week, quotes from an interview Hasenhuttl conducted with German magazine Kicker implied that he would look to retire from football when his Saints contract expires in 2024.
However, there was nothing from Hasenhuttl’s post-match behaviour that suggested he was thinking about anything other than Saints’ victory against a resurgent Spurs side under Antonio Conte.
Speaking to press, the 54-year-old said: “This is why we love this job, this is why we love the game.
“Because we see here ups and downs and you can see it in the end, in overtime.
“To be honest I was like okay, we take a point. It’s also good. It was not really one minute disappointed about it because I thought ‘okay’.”
Despite Saints’ near dominant performance, Hasenhuttl believed his side should have put the game to bed before half-time – and also felt aggrieved over a few decisions match official David Coote made.
“(It was an) unbelievable match today,” continued Hasenhuttl.
“Really, the way we played the first half I must say was really one of the best I’ve seen from the teams of we have played them around, had in possession, super solutions, scored, chances to score very good chances.
“(We) must make two or three goals in the first half, made one and then you concede a goal after – for me – a foul on the midline, he didn’t give it first half we had a penalty situation where he didn’t give it.
“The good thing is that this was not decisive today.
“For me the key of these three points was that after this second goal we conceded, we keep on playing and they step back a little bit like they always do when they’re in the lead.
“The good thing is that we have now solutions and the tools to score even against good organized teams when they are sitting deep.
“This is another step forward I must say, and very good to watch the delivery.
“Very good to watch the run for Moi in the box and the equalizer and the second goal was nearly similar and this is fantastic to watch.”
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed how “big discussions” inside the club’s black box helped his side mastermind their dramatic 3-2 victory over Tottenham.
Spurs looked to be heading towards the points after a Jan Bednarek own goal and a Heung-min Son effort either side of Armando Broja’s equaliser gave them a 2-1 lead.
However, headed goals from Mohamed Elyounoussi and Che Adams in quick succession turned the game on its head and handed the win to Saints.
Victory moved the St Mary’s side into the top 10 in the Premier League, with four points taken from games against big guns Tottenham and Manchester City.
Speaking post-match about the success in north London, Hasenhuttl said: “We found a very good game plan.
“Against a back five we were always (previously) a little bit struggling creating chances.
“Today we tried it a little bit different, it worked perfectly. Congrats to the analysts, to Richard (Kitzbichler, assistant), to everybody who was working with us.
“We had big discussions during the week in the black box. Finding the right decisions.
“We were discussing about the positions on the 10 and the strikers. In the end you could see it worked, definitely, perfectly.
“The first half was fantastic. I had the right players in the right positions and then it’s hard for them to come on the ball and we could play them around – waiting for the moment we could create chances.
“This is good to see.”
Saints have now picked up 28 points from 23 games in the top flight this season.
BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche was delighted with his side’s response in their 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Paul Pogba gave the visitors the lead in the first half but the Clarets hit back through Jay Rodriguez after the break.
Dyche admits his side struggled at times in the opening 45 minutes but was encouraged by their second half display.
“It’s not an easy situation, we’re factually bottom of the league,” said the Burnley chief.
“I don’t think we should be but there we are. We’ve got to correct it and it’s difficult playing against Manchester United.
“There might be some noise about them at the moment but you look at that team sheet and they’ve got top, top players.
“We didn’t get to grips with the performance but we stayed intact and at half-time I asked a bit more of a few individuals, I thought we carried a few. But it was a very good reaction afterwards.”
Dyche had made the decision to shift Maxwel Cornet to the wing in order to bring Rodriguez in as a strike partner for Weghorst, and was repaid with a long-awaited landmark goal.
“He’s a very good player,” Dyche said of the 32-year-old. “He’s never had a true run for us with injury and Covid and the rest of it but over the years he’s shown what a pro he is.
“He stuck at it in the first half diligently and then in the second half pops up with the goal.”
The Clarets remain bottom of the Premier League table but have two games in hand over the sides above them.
Dyche’s men are back in action on Sunday when they welcome Liverpool to Turf Moor (KO 2pm).
RALPH Hasenhuttl insists that he is sure Lyanco will “come back even stronger” after the defender has impressed the boss with strides already made since arriving at St Mary’s.
The 25-year-old Brazilian looks set to spend between eight and 12 weeks on the sidelines following the “very serious” hamstring tendon injury that he picked up in the FA Cup clash with Coventry City.
The concern is of the same nature that kept fellow centre-back Jack Stephens out between mid-September and mid-December, after he sustained that during the 0-0 draw at Manchester City.
In an absolute worst-case scenario, it could keep him out until Saints near the end of their Premier League season.
Lyanco was pictured on crutches after the FA Cup clash last weekend (Pic: Stuart Martin)
It’s a big blow for the popular summer arrival, who has battled from a shaky start at Sheffield United in the EFL Cup and waiting to the end of November for a Premier League start to appearing in 11 consecutive league matches for Saints when available.
He only missed out in the West Ham and Spurs festive fixtures due to a positive COVID test.
Speaking on Lyanco’s injury, Hasenhuttl clarified: “(12 weeks is) the biggest range, like Jack Stephens I think he needed eight weeks to be then back fully fit.
Jack Stephens’ injury at Etihad Stadium (Pic: PA)
“I’m always a positive thinking manager.”
At this stage of his English career, every game would have been one of rich development for Lyanco. Even if he was back by just eight weeks in the best case, the former Torino man would still have missed nine fixtures including the FA Cup fifth round versus West Ham.
“For me it was very, very nice to see how much he developed his game since he was here,” Hasenhuttl continued.
“When he was coming here, especially with the ball he had some deficits but he is getting better and better. More calm, more composed.
“We want to play football in some moments, we need to have centre-backs that find the red zone and are calm in possession and this is what he has learned, very quickly I must say, made big steps forward.”
Over a month after his debut at Bramall Lane, Lyanco impressed supporters with a much more composed performance during the 1-1 draw at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge in the next cup round.
Lyanco was booked on his debut at Sheffield United (Pic: PA)
It was that weekend where he was given his Premier League debut as a late substitute at Watford, and he has since appeared in every league match he has been available for.
The Austrian continued: “He is physically a very good guy and the injury he got now was a very, very strange situation where he was pulled back and he couldn’t handle it so it was a bad step he made and was the reason why he got such a bad hamstring injury.
His first FA Cup appearance ended with disappointment (Pic: PA)
“But now I love his character, I love his way, how he behaves in the team. Everyone loves him in the club and this is the type of character and player that fits perfectly to us.
“I’m very happy from the development I have seen so far and I’m sure he will come back even stronger.”
Another factor that makes the loss a blow for Hasenhuttl is that Lyanco is adept in five-at-the-back defensive shapes as well as traditional fours, which the Austrian has this year liked to experiment with.
His injury leaves Saints with three recognised senior centre-backs in Stephens, Mohammed Salisu, Jan Bednarek.
Lyanco out on crutches but smiling. #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/90eiZV4pnG
— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) February 5, 2022
Yan Valery has also been operating as a central-defender and it looks certain that he will now play the role of one of the four required centre-backs in Hasenhuttl’s squad.
Youngster Dynel Simeu, who was in the matchday squad for Saints’ first-team while they were short on numbers over the festive period and January, is now out on loan at Carlisle United for the remainder of the campaign.
RALPH Hasenhuttl confirms that “there are talks behind the scenes” but Saints have no news on potential contract extensions, despite a number of players approaching the final months on their deals.
The Austrian instead insisted that Saints are focussing on other day-to-day business, following the takeover by Sport Republic last month.
Nobody exited or wanted to exit the club during the January transfer window – which pleased Hasenhuttl – but that picture could look very different in the summer, as it stands.
All four of Saints’ first-team goalkeeping group are currently set to leave the club, with Alex McCarthy, Fraser Forster, Willy Caballero and Harry Lewis all on terms that expire this June.
Willy Caballero was initially signed as emergency cover (Pic: Stuart Martin)
Joining them is Jack Stephens, Shane Long and a handful of B team assets, including hotly-tipped Kazeem Olaigbe and Kegs Chauke, who have spent time training with the first-team.
Asked by the Daily Echo whether fans can expect movement on some of these deals soon, Hasenhuttl responded: “We will announce news when there is news to announce, at the moment there is not.
“We are trying to concentrate on our daily business, this is very important, the rest will come as soon as we think it is necessary but there are talks behind the scenes.”
Adding: “This is for sure.”
Despite this, strong and numerous reports suggest that McCarthy and Stephens have already agreed new terms that are as of yet unannounced by the club.
Jack Stephens has only made six Premier League appearances this season and just one since September (Pic: Stuart Martin)
However, both have since suffered injury concerns that have kept them on the sidelines for an extended period, although Stephens is now back involved on matchdays.
McCarthy, 32, is set for his recovery to continue for further weeks after Hasenhuttl revealed that he had a setback with his hamstring injury, after making a brief return to first-team training.
It means there will be an extended run for 33-year-old Forster, who has played and impressed in the last five Premier League matches.
Hasenhuttl has also enjoyed keeping 40-year-old Caballero around the group and could potentially extend his deal for another year, but it looks likely that Saints will have to invest in a goalkeeper to take them forward.
Yet Forster still has an opportunity to make the most of his control of the goalkeeping shirt in the Premier League, which at the beginning of this season looked very much unlikely ever happening again at St Mary’s.
Fraser Forster is playing for his next contract, whether that is at Saints or elsewhere (Pic: Stuart Martin)
“Yeah, the message is a very clear one. He has now a chance to show up,” Hasenhutl said, of the former Celtic star.
“I think he does this in a good way. There are still things he can improve, but (I’m) very happy that he makes some steps forward in his game.”
He continued: “He has some fantastic strengths, everyone knows, the weakness in his game he must work on this and he does, therefore we are very, very happy with his development and with the games he has played.”
DAN ASHWORTH has resigned as Albion’s technical director.
Ashworth has held talks with Newcastle United in recent weeks.
Albion confirmed today he “will take a similar role at another Premier League club.”
But that will not happen until be has served an “extended” period of gardening leave.
Former Everton and Rangers player and Scotland international David Weir becomes the Seagulls’ acting technical director with immediate effect.
He was recently promoted to assistant technical director.
In a club statement, Albion chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber said: “We are sorry to learn of Dan’s decision. He’s been an important part of the club’s senior management team since joining us from The FA, and has made a significant contribution to our club’s progress in the Premier League and Women’s Super League.
“On a personal level, I will be sad to see Dan leave as we’d developed a close day to day working relationship. Dan’s been an excellent colleague and has become a good friend as well. I wish Dan and his family well for the future.
“However, as is the case with all top quality people in any industry, we are always conscious of the risk of losing key staff to a rival. With that in mind, we always put in place contingencies and succession plans that are designed to minimise the impact on our club.
“As such, our assistant technical director, David Weir, will now step up and assume the role of acting technical director. He is someone with an excellent knowledge of the role and of our club’s culture from working side-by-side with Dan.
“As previously, we will conduct a search process for the role of technical director, as it is only right to do so. We anticipate a lot of high calibre applicants but we also fully expect and hope David will be a candidate in this process.”
Chairman Tony Bloom added: “We are extremely disappointed that Dan will no longer be our technical director. He leaves a significant legacy in place and for that we are greatly appreciative.
“Dan’s done an outstanding job and helped build on the progress the club had already made across all of our technical areas. I wish Dan and his family well for the future.”
The question to Graham Potter was well-intended but could have been more carefully worded.
Albion had just been well beaten by Tottenham in the first of three meetings between the clubs in this second half of the season.
Potter had come up against Antonio Conte for the first time and the Italian had seen his plan work well.
His Tottenham side were solid, compact and patient without the ball, rapier-like on counter raids and with high quality personnel to carry the job out.
Albion were knocked out of their stride and were second best in the first half.
That was a shock to the system for those who have followed them on their travels this season.
No doubt Potter will look at this tie and come up with ideas for the two league games.
The question I asked was whether he would learn from a tough Saturday night ahead of the two remaining meetings.
Of course he will.
Potter replied: “Every game that’s what you have to do, you have to learn.
“We will learn from it and hopefully do better in the next game.
“We prepare for Watford now.”
What I should have asked was WHAT would Albion learn.
Conte set a test which Albion did not handle well, certainly initially.
The period in which they struggled lasted longer than at, for example, Anfield and Stamford Bridge.
Potter said: “I thought defensively there were a couple of things.
“I also thought we turned the ball over a little bit too cheaply for what we normally do.
“Sometimes those things can happen.
“The attitude of the boys and the personality was great.
“Their intention was really good.
“Sometimes it’s not your night, you don’t quite hit the levels you need to and also there’s another team on the pitch we have to credit as well.”
Harry Kane’s double and a freak own goal off Solly March did the damage.
There were mistakes by Albion in the run-up to the first goal.
They wasted at least a couple of presentable goalscoring chances too – but so did Spurs.
Albion will need to be more precise playing out from the back when points are at stake against Spurs.
Robert Sanchez had just got away with a poor pass, which took Kane by surprise, when the Seagulls went behind.
Adam Webster quickly saw routes forward closed down when he received the ball from his keeper.
He stumbled as he tried to bring the ball out, Son Heung-min took it away from him and Kane eventually curled unerringly around Lewis Dunk and inside the far post.
Goal No.2 came on one of those counter raids with Albion having been lured well forward.
It looked like March had tracked back sufficiently well but the intended cross by Emerson Royal took a nick off his shin and spiralled crazily into the one spot Sanchez could not reach Spurs were a threat every time they sprung from deep.
There were more scrapes in front of the Albion goal and for a while it seemed the best they could aim for was to reach the interval 2-0 down and just about in the contest.
In fact, they might have thrown themselves a lifeline before their half-time rendezvous with their unhappy head coach.
Yves Bissouma was heavily involved in a move which led to Neal Maupay slashing a shot wildly off target on the turn.
That was just an appetiser for the way Bissouma would look to drag his side back into the tie after the break.
Refusing to be shaken off the ball and driving forward from midfield, Bissouma was the heartbeat of an improvement which gave 5,700 away fans something to warm to.
He saw one deflected shot produce a fine save from Hugo Lloris before another got Albion back in the contest.
There was good fortune as the ball span in off Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, of course.
But the way he got to a loose ball first, maintained possession, went left then right and created shooting space summed up that second-half display on his return from Afcon action.
Game on – for all of two minutes.
Albion may well look at failings defensively as Spurs restored their two-goal buffer.
But one must also give huge credit to the way Son drove at the heart of their defence, especially Webster.
Dunk went across and got a foot in but that only diverted the ball against Webster and goalwards before Kane slid in to add the final touch.
Even then Albion should have got back in the game had Maupay shown more conviction when sent clean through by Webster.
His attempted chip of a keeper who was not going down gave Lloris an easy gather – and Jakub Moder reason to complain that the Frenchman had not passed.
That said, Moder himself was off target with a couple of efforts from around the edge of the box as Albion failed to make the most of possession.
They have plenty to work on but evidence of the season so far suggests they will do exactly that.
Tottenham: Lloris; Romero (Rodon 76), Sanchez, Davies; Royal (Doherty 87), Winks (Bentancur 77), Hojbjerg , Reguilon; Lucas , Kane, Son (Bergwijn 69). Subs not used: Gollini, Sessgnon, White, Scarlett.
Goals: Kane 13, 66, March OG 24.
Booked: Bentancur.
Albion: Sanchez; Webster, Dunk, Cucurella; Lamptey (Welbeck 70), Gross, Lallana (Veltman 46), Bissouma, March (Caicedo 61); Moder (Ferguson 79), Maupay. Subs not used: Steele, McGill, Alzate, Duffy, Offiah.
Goal: Bissouma 63.
Booked: Veltman.
Referee: Stuart Attwell
BURNLEY left-back Erik Pieters admits he is at a loss to explain the Clarets’ dismal home record that is hampering their efforts to pull clear of relegation trouble.
Saturday’s critical clash against fellow strugglers Watford ended in a goalless draw, meaning Sean Dyche’s side have won just one of their last 18 league matches at Turf Moor – the 3-1 victory over Brentford in October which is their only league win home or away this season.
“Someone told me (the stat) a while ago but I am surprised we are struggling to get wins at home,” said the Dutchman. “It’s weird. We are a strong side, especially at home. When they told me I thought, ‘Nah, it can’t be true’, but of course you go back and look and it’s not good.
“We definitely need to work on that. But it’s the Premier League and every single game is different. At this point I don’t care how many points we get at home or away. The main thing is that we get the points.”
Manchester United will be the next visitors on Tuesday night, the first in a daunting run of home fixtures with Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea to follow.
Given the challenges to come, Burnley’s inability to beat a Watford side who had themselves taken only one point from the previous 24 on offer was seen as a major setback in their bid to avoid the drop.
Though they are still only three points from safety with games in hand, Norwich’s uptick in form and Newcastle’s major January investment have put the pressure on, while Burnley’s wait for another victory goes on.
“It’s difficult but we know we have a really experienced group, a group that’s really together,” Pieters added. “Everyone wants to work together. I don’t see any problem in us facing that battle.
“But you have to show it on the pitch in the end. Every game in the Premier League is difficult but we have confidence and trust in each other, and I have trust in myself that we can get out of it.”
There were some positives to take from Saturday’s wet and windy affair – another clean sheet, one more point if not three, and an encouraging debut from deadline day signing Wout Weghorst, who linked up well with Maxwel Cornet as the latter returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Pieters said he had not known fellow Dutchman Weghorst before last month, but the 6ft 6in striker had got his number from mutual friend Tim Krul and had sought his advice on making the move to Turf Moor.
“He’s a really down to earth guy, a nice guy, relaxed,” Pieters said. “He’s easy to talk to and to get along with. I think that’s really a key factor for us as a team. Hopefully everything will connect together.
“He’s got good speed and I think you can see he’s a real goal-getter. I think he was a bit unlucky (on Saturday) but you can see what he has in front of goal.
“One moment he just controlled it inside the box and the shot was blocked, but you can see the quality of every touch.
“It’s nice to have him in the team and hopefully he will score for us really soon.”
BURNLEY manager Sean Dyche intends to make Manchester United’s visit to Turf Moor an awkward one as he seeks to end his side’s long winless run.
The Clarets haven’t registered three points since the end of October but back-to-back clean sheets in goalless draws with Arsenal and fellow strugglers Watford have boosted confidence.
Dyche’s side, who have at least a couple of games in hand over their main rivals, are only one win from lifting themselves out of the bottom three but with United and then Liverpool to visit this week, the real challenge is to keep things moving in the right direction.
That will mean harnessing home advantage and making life difficult for their more illustrious opponents, while hoping to capitalise on any vulnerabilities in United’s confidence after their FA Cup defeat to Championship side Middlesbrough on penalties.
“You hope they are (vulnerable) but you can’t guarantee it. They have some very big players with real quality,” he said.
“There is a bit of noise for many different reasons around Manchester United at the minute.
“Particularly when we play the bigger teams, the superpower clubs, we make the game feel different and feel awkward for them, mixing the play and asking different kinds of questions and we have found we can win these kind of games and get results.
“That’s our job and that’s what we intend to do.”
There were boos after Saturday’s goalless draw with Watford and Dyche accepts his team have to offer a bit more in order to use the support the fans give the team.
“I think there is a little bit of nervousness. We are not stupid, we have to continue the strong record we have had over the years at Turf Moor,” he added.
“If you win games the fans feel great, but I’m certainly not going to question our fans in any shape or form.
“We have to deliver a performance which will give them that feeling and we are trying to.
“I thought we performed really well at their place and late on created some good chances, statistically it was one of our best performances.
“They’ve had a bit more time to work with the manager, who’s had some time to get across his thoughts.
“But I think we can build on the mentality from that performance and the last couple.”
The midfielder scored and shone as the Seagulls went out of the FA Cup.
His deflected strike capped a storming individual second-half display and fleetingly put his side back in the contest before they lost 3-1.
Bissouma was subject of transfer interest last month and Graham Potter is only too aware that will increase in the summer.
He is ready for it – and looking forward to seeing what Bissouma can produce before then.
Albion’s head coach said: “I’ve spoken about this quite often, especially in transfer windows, because there is always speculation about good players and you have to deal with that.
“As a club we are quite strong.
“We don’t have to sell anybody but we also know it helps improve and develop a club.
BRIGHTON PLAYER RATINGS FROM DEFEAT AT TOTTENHAM
“We understand where we are in the pyramid.
“Now it’s just a case of being competitive, trying to develop a team and a club who our supporters are proud of.”
He added: “It isn’t never say never but it’s important Yves is with us.
“He is enjoying his football.
“While he is doing that I think it’s great for us and good for him.”
SEAN Dyche insists Burnley can still get themselves out of trouble after their crunch Premier League match against fellow relegation candidates Watford ended in a goalless draw on Saturday night.
A series of postponements meant this was only Burnley’s fourth league game since mid-December, but they have belatedly reached the midpoint of the campaign with only one win from 19 – no side has come this far with one or fewer victories and survived since West Brom in 2004-05.
Burnley sit bottom of the table, three points adrift of Norwich in 17th, and though they still have games in hand, they must find an answer to their goalscoring problems if they are to take advantage of any of them.
With Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea the next visitors to Turf Moor, a fixture against a Watford side who had taken only one point from a possible 24 – a run which cost Claudio Ranieri his job – was a clear opportunity, but one Burnley could not take.
“If it is as easy to take what you describe as a missed opportunity then everyone would take them and win every week,” Dyche said.
“I think it is a performance which could have got a win but we didn’t get it and that has been sort of the story of the season.
“So now it is about adding to what we are doing, keeping the base which has to be right in terms of clean sheets, but we have got to start turning draws into wins and sometimes turning what looks like a game that is getting away from you into a draw.
“We have done that historically and we have got to do it again.”
The games will pile up for Burnley as they make up for lost time, but Dyche sees that as an opportunity, pointing to the runs the Clarets have used in each of the last two seasons to pull clear of trouble.
“Historically we’ve been strong in the second half of the season and we’re going to need all of that this season for sure,” he said.
“We’re a point better off than we were a few seasons ago – it might not sound like a lot, but it could be defining, you never know.”
There was an audible buzz at Turf Moor before kick-off as fans got their first look at the 6ft 6in deadline day signing Wout Weghorst, brought in to replace Chris Wood.
The Dutchman, who scored 59 goals in 118 Bundesliga appearances for Wolfsburg, showed some flashes and linked up well with Maxwel Cornet, but could not end Burnley’s wait for a first home league goal since November 20.
“I think Wout did really well,” Dyche said. “It’s not easy to come into a group, he’s accepted what the group are about. He’ll give us hold up play, he’ll give us quality and as he gets used to the tempo of the Premier League, when he gets his eye in, I think he’ll do well.”
RALPH Hasenhuttl has told German media that he intends to end his coaching career at the expiration of his Saints contract in 2024.
The 54-year-old signed a four-year contract to remain with the St Mary’s outfit in June 2020.
If he was to fulfil that contract, he would have spent a total of five-and-a-half years as manager of Saints in the Premier League.
Speaking to Kicker, he reveals that his intention is to end his coaching career then – and he has told new owners Sport Republic.
“That’s the plan and I hope I have the strength to go through with it,” he said.
“I told the new owners that I wanted to put the club on a very healthy footing over the next two-and-a-half years, but that was it.”
New Saints owners Sport Republic (Pic: Stuart Martin)
Explaining his surprise decision, the Austrian added: “Five and a half years in the Premier League, that’s a lot of energy, regardless of job satisfaction.
“I can’t imagine that I want to do anything else in the coaching job after that. I achieved my big goal of getting into the Premier League.
“In the motherland of football, being able to coach what is perhaps the best league in the world is a privilege that I am aware of every day.”
The former international striker, Hasenhuttl, has also managed the likes of Ingolstadt and Red Bull Leipzig in a touchline career that started back in 2007.
Hasenhuttl was appointed Saints manager in December 2018 on a two-and-a-half-year deal, succeeding Mark Hughes when they were in the bottom three and successfully steering them to safety.
