Brendan Rodgers
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Brendan Rodgers responds to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s comments on controversial opener #LEIFC #SAINTSFC

May 23, 2022
BRENDAN Rodgers responded “if the centre-half doesn’t make a mistake there is no drama” after Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed Saints asked Leicester to gift an equaliser. The Saints bench asked the Foxes to let the visitors run and score after James Maddison opened soon after the half-time break. During the eventual 4-1 defeat, referee Jon Moss had stopped play for an injury while Saints were on the ball, but gave the drop ball back to the Foxes in error. Leicester then attacked immediately and scored after Lyanco errors at the back let them in from a long-ball forward. Hasenhuttl says Saints asked Leicester to allow the concession of a goal in the interest of sportsmanship, but that did not transpire. Rodgers was asked for his view on Hasenhuttl’s comments, and responded: "It was a lack of clarity on what actually happened. Was it a bounce-ball, was it a free-kick to us? "The ball was obviously bounced and we played it back to Kasper (Schmeichel). If the centre-half doesn't make a mistake there is no drama, he heads it back and Southampton has the ball. "But he doesn’t. Then I think if there is any issue Jon Moss will blow up, but pretty soon after he points to the centre-sport. "Clearly the Southampton players are unhappy. I understand the frustration, and they will be disappointed they didn’t defend it better, but all we can do is play to the whistle." Asked why his side did not accept the request from the Saints bench, Rodgers added: “Only because of the side when where we speak to the fourth official, I called some of the players over to see what Jon Moss was saying. "Jon Moss said it was a goal and it was a fair goal. It is disappointing for Ralph, there was a bit of confusion but we scored and went on to score another three goals." A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more. Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss demanded ‘a very passionate performance’ against Leicester City in the final game #SAINTSFC #LCFC

May 21, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl revealed he has demanded “a very passionate performance for the supporters going with us” as his Saints side finish their season on the road. The St Mary’s outfit visit Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on Sunday, May 22 (4PM), knowing they need to produce something to inspire frustrated fans. It has been a difficult year away from home, with Saints only winning three of their 18 trips so far – Watford, West Ham and Tottenham – drawing six and losing a further nine. If Everton pick up a point versus a faltering Arsenal and Saints do not, Hasenhuttl’s once top-10 targeting side will drop again from 15th to 16th in the Premier League. Everton finally secured Premier League survival with victory last night (Pic: PA) Asked what he expects of his players on Sunday, the Austrian responded: “A very passionate performance for the supporters that are going with us. “That you know what you have to deliver on the pitch. We have had some real tough games so we want to go there and show our best.” But the boss insists wherever they finish in the table will have been their own making, adding: “It's what you deserve to get when you have a season with a long run of good form but in the end lose games you don't have to lose. “The mid-table is very tight, you can see when we played all of the teams around us, and it often breaks down to those decisive games, to the six-point games. “This season again we failed in that moment and this is very disappointing, the minimum target we have reached very early but also the next step we cannot manage so far – this is not what we wanted.” With just one win in the last 11 Premier League matches, Hasenhuttl lamented another poor run-in – a second in succession for Saints, after finishing 15th last campaign. Liverpool came from behind to defeat Saints last time out (Pic: Stuart Martin) “The final part of the season we could definitely do better,” he admitted. “I think when you look at our results we had a time where we had three losses in two months and then several losses in one month, so it is a bit up and down. “I must say we are not the only team like this in the Premier League. It’s a little bit strange that it is always coming at the end of the season, we had one year where we didn’t do it when we had the COVID break in March. “We ended up really strong there after resetting and refreshing up. It’s exhausting for us, a long season, it costs the guys a lot of energy, us also. “It seems we cannot hold this level high up into the end of the season, this is the goal for the future.” A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more. Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News