Romain Perraud
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Romain Perraud wants Southampton to be ‘more killers in front of goal’ #SAINTSFC

March 17, 2023
The Frenchman was one of those picked out as visibly distraught on the pitch following the conclusion of Wednesday’s 2-0 loss. Many Saints supporters are resigned to relegation but there are still 11 games to play and just two points separating the bottom from safety. After seven points in Ruben Selles’s first five matches as manager, even the second loss to Thomas Frank’s Bees does not wrap things up. Perraud insists Saints have to maintain a fighting spirit to stand a chance of beating the drop and playing Premier League football next campaign. “We have to keep going. Keep a good mentality. Keep a fighting spirit because, you know, when you play to stay in the Premier League, the most important thing is just to be ready and be focused, especially mentally because sometimes it can be hard,” he said. “Of course, I was disappointed. The situation is tough for us and for everybody. You know, we play for life as well, for the fans and for the club but I will never give up. We need to be ready on Saturday. “It’s difficult to say but it was not enough (the reason for defeat). We were inoffensive. We conceded a goal on set pieces and we know this team is very good on corners and on free-kicks, everything,” Perraud added. “But I think we controlled the game, we had the ball but we didn't find the connection between us. And at the end of the day, it was not enough in terms of situations, in terms of shorts, crosses. We have a game on Saturday and we will be ready to fight for this game. “We were ready to compete and it’s tough because we wanted to give a good game but it was not enough. We need to forget this and try to move on knowing our situation.” The upcoming game Perraud repeatedly references is another home tie, with Tottenham Hotspur visiting on Saturday, March 18. Saints could still climb out of the relegation zone with a victory, while Spurs manager Antonio Conte comes under increasing pressure in their hunt for the top four. “I think we improved our way to play in the last four or five games. Sometimes it can happen, you can lose or win some games,” Perraud, who is still wearing a cast covering half of his hand after breaking his little finger at Chelsea, added. “Wednesday I think it was not enough and hopefully we will be ready for Saturday. We know this team is playing for the Champions League but we played a good game in Chelsea and at Old Trafford, so we’re ready to fight.” Saints will need to find a goalscoring touch to have any luck after failing to score for a third time in the five matches Selles has managed. In the two games in which they have scored – once – Saints have won courtesy of clean sheets. No team has scored fewer goals than the St Mary’s side in the Premier League this season (20). “I will be every time behind my guys because it is about a team, maybe we have to be more killers in front of the goal," Perraud admitted.  “It was not enough of course, but we need to keep believing. We have to believe, it’s very close at the bottom of the league so now we need to give a good performance against Spurs.”
Romain Perraud
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton ace Romain Perraud admits team ‘lost confidence’ before managerial change #SAINTSFC

December 10, 2022
SAINTS defender Romain Perraud conceded the squad “lost confidence” before the break and admits Nathan Jones’s focus has been to restore belief. The St Mary’s side had won just one Premier League match since August before the division was paused for the World Cup in Qatar. They had been battered and bruised with injuries to key players and missed chances saw Saints fall further down the table, now sitting second from bottom. The run of five points in their last 10 is marked by the sacking of manager Ralph Hasenhuttl last month, with Jones coming in for the defeat at Liverpool. Asked what the difference between Hasenhuttl and the Welshman has been so far, Perraud responded: “Firstly, there is not the same identity to play but you have to respect all of the different identities and way of playing. “The new gaffer has arrived with a clear message, trying to help us to compete in the Premier League, because we have a young team.” Speaking from the winter training camp in Spain, he added: “He’s trying to give us confidence and we can say that we lost a little bit of confidence before the break. “He’s here to be positive and the squad tried to answer in the best way. We can see the intensity in training, it’s very nice to watch.” Jones will take charge of his team for the first time at St Mary’s in the EFL Cup versus Lincoln City on Wednesday, December 21, before hosting Brighton on Boxing Day in the Premier League.   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.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl challenges Romain Perraud to improve aspects of his game as injuries mount for Southampton #SAINTSFC

November 2, 2022
INJURY to Kyle Walker-Peters has left Romain Perraud as the solitary Premier League-ready full-back at Ralph Hasenhuttl’s disposal – and he is learning more about the Frenchman. Perraud himself was recovering from a long-term fracture concern and can rarely finish 90 minutes but has now started five consecutive matches for the first time since the May layoff. His contributions helped keep the manager in a job; scoring his first Premier League goal in the 1-1 draw with West Ham and assisting Che Adams for the winner at AFC Bournemouth in the next match.  Hasenhuttl had called for Perraud to improve his attacking output, when asked by the Daily Echo what exactly the former Stade Brest man has and can still work on most. Read more: Hasenhuttl reportedly wanted to sign promising England defender last summer “His crosses, his final pass, his calmness with the ball to find the six and his passes in the red zone – everything what is with the ball he can improve,” the Austrian responded. “He had no pre-season and this is never perfect for a player, but he had enough time to come back in good shape. “I think he is physically so far one of the better full-backs we have, with fewer options with the loss of Tino (Livramento) last year and we couldn’t really replace him in the summer. “We were hoping Perraud was coming back to this level he had and against the ball he is one of the better defenders we have. With the ball he can improve but this is something not only for him, for nearly every player.” Perraud has racked up 34 appearances for Saints since his summer 2021 arrival, including 31 of those in the English top-flight. He spent most of last season behind Walker-Peters playing on the left, before Tino Livramento’s ACL injury at Brighton & Hove Albion in April. Saints did recruit Manchester City youngster Juan Larios, 18, on deadline day – aided by outgoing head of recruitment Joe Shields – but early impressions suggest the teen needs time. It leaves Perraud largely uncontested and closer to irreplaceable – with Hasenhuttl already trying to plug the gap on the right-hand side and experiencing varying degrees of success. The boss still insists that Larios’ presence pushes Perraud, adding: “I think it is always important for every player that he has a little bit of pressure. “We saw it with Kyle (Walker-Peters), and how much he had to step up to play with Tino there. It is always helpful with every player and was the reason we were happy with Juan coming in. “It should be always a situation that pushes every player to the highest possible level.” 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 just take my word for it - subscribe today. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook
Romain Perraud
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Romain Perraud reflects on ‘tough’ period with injuries #SAINTSFC

October 6, 2022
ROMAIN Perraud is confident his injury problems are now behind him, adding: "I will fight for this club and for these fans." Perraud's encouraging first season in England was cut short in May, when he suffered a fracture in his foot. The Frenchman battled back in time to feature towards the end of pre-season, before struggling with other injury niggles which kept him out of action. However, the 25-year-old is now back available and has featured in each of the past four fixtures, albeit without completing a full 90 minutes yet. Asked how difficult the period was for him during his injury lay-off, Perraud told the Daily Echo: "It was tough for me because I had no pre-season. "I used some Premier League games to try to be fit and to improve. "But it was a little bit frustrating, but now it’s behind me and I’m trying to look forward and be ready for the next fixtures and help my teammates, help everybody, because I will fight for this club and for these fans." Asked if he feels he rushed back from his previous injury, Perraud added: "When you are a player, you want to try and train with everybody in the squad. But when I came back, I think I was not really fit, because I had another injury one week later, so that was very disappointing. "But it is part of the game. "Now it is behind me and I just want to be focused on my football and especially to take some points for this team. "I wanted to be ready, but an injury can be good for a player sometimes, because you can be calm after this and you can have another vision of the situation. "Now to be honest, after a few months out, I just want to be fit." Discussing his current level of fitness, having played 45 minutes and half an hour in Saints' past two fixtures either side of the international break, Perraud said: "At the moment, touch wood, I have no pain. So it’s nice. "I’m fit at the moment. So if the gaffer needs me, I will be ready to fight, definitely." The left-back added: "Last year I played maybe 20 or 21 games in the Premier League and some games in the cup. "I needed time to adapt. And after, I was better month after month. Just now I need to be ready to be fit and try to play my football, definitely." It has been a difficult time on the pitch for Saints since the impressive victory over Chelsea at the end of August, in which Perraud teed up Adam Armstrong's winning goal. The club have suffered three defeats on the spin, have slipped to 16th in the Premier League table, just one point outside the relegation zone, and head to rampant title favourites Manchester City this weekend. Discussing the mood amongst the squad since Saturday's 2-1 loss to Everton, Perraud explained: "To begin, I think everybody knows what happens when you have three defeats in a row. "It’s not nice for the fans, for the club, for everybody. "We need to react, definitely. "This weekend will be a very big challenge for us, but sometimes it is good to play against these (big) teams, because you want to do more. "You need to do more and for sure we need to react and compete against them." 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 just take my word for it - subscribe today. Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook
Romain Perraud
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PSLtories- Southampton’s Romain Perraud on new signings settling down #SAINTSFC

October 6, 2022
SAINTS defender Romain Perraud is looking to pay forward the help he received when he first arrived at St Mary’s. Left-back Perraud joined Saints in the summer of 2021 from Stade Brest, going on to make 29 appearances so far during his career on the south coast. In the summer transfer window, Saints continued to do business with French clubs, acquiring Duje Caleta-Car from Marseille and Sekou Mara from Bordeaux. After being welcomed to England last year, Perraud is more than happy to assist his new teammates to adapt to life in the UK. He shared: "Some players speak French, like Sekou Mara or Armel Bella-Kotchap, so it is easier sometimes to give some words just to help them, especially on the pitch, but as well off the pitch. "It is nice, Duje (Caleta-Car) has arrived from Marseille and he speaks a bit of French, and he is learning English, so I can help him as well. "When I arrived, players tried to help me, so it is natural for me to do the same." Mara and Caleta-Car arrive at Saints having crossed paths with Perraud during their mutual time in Ligue 1. "I played against them, more against Duje, because Sekou it was his first season with Bordeaux really last year,” commented the 25-year-old. "We spoke together and now we are ready to play together. "He (Mara) is a very good young player. “He has shown so many good things at Bordeaux and with the national team, but I told him sometimes it is not easy when you arrive in the Premier League to adapt. “You need time, maybe, but he can be ready and I am not worried about him, because he is a good player, and a nice guy, so it is not a problem."
Romain Perraud
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton ace Romain Perraud on positive mind, Livramento and English life #SAINTSFC

June 14, 2022
ROMAIN Perraud insists there were “two decisions” he could have made when struggling to make Ralph Hasenhuttl’s XI early in his first season in English football. One - to become disillusioned - would have been easy for the Frenchman, away from his family, friends and beloved partner in a new country.  The other takes a sense of calm derived from self-belief, ready introspection and a willing to work. "You can be not happy and angry, or you can learn,” the 24-year-old summer arrival simply put to the Daily Echo. Perraud, signed from Stade Brest for around £10million, started three of the first four Premier League games - but just three of the next 14 as Kyle Walker-Peters began to strangle that left side. “When I arrived I needed to adapt to this championship, to the Premier League,” Perraud said. “It was a big difference with the French first division and Premier League. Romain Perraud has enjoyed his first season in English football (Pic: Stuart Martin) “I began the first two games and after I was on the bench. When you’re on the bench, you have two decisions. "You can be not happy and angry at training or you can learn. In my mindset, I have to learn everything every day.” He continued: “When you’re on the bench, you watch your teammates and you have to learn okay I need to do this, I need to improve this. “This is my mindset and the season is very long, it is not a sprint but more of a marathon. Hopefully I have the chance to play and to give everything for my club.” It was over that superb run at the start of 2022 where Saints began to see exactly what Perraud was capable of, with solid defending and ambitious attacking. Thumping a long-range strike off the crossbar during the 3-2 win at Tottenham Hotspur, his first goal in England came soon after with a similarly impressive effort in the FA Cup versus West Ham. Video: Romain Perraud’s goal against West Ham #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/mrQERgaYY7 — SaintsExtra (@SaintsExtra) March 2, 2022 On a personal note – despite Saints being unable to buy a win – it was all going so well for Perraud, until a fracture cut his season short going into the final week. He should be able to return for pre-season, and travel with the squad to Austria in mid-July. However, fellow full-back Tino Livramento will be kept out until 2023 with the ACL injury he suffered away at Brighton in April. It was Perraud who replaced the distraught 19-year-old on the day – and it thrusts him into a more significant role, with Walker-Peters now needed on his usual side.  “I was very sad for Tino because when I came onto the pitch against Brighton I was shocked,” Perraud reflected. Romain Perraud could start almost every game in Tino Livramento's absence (Pic: PA) “He will come back for sure because he is very, very good. So I have thought for him. "For me, there is Thierry Small on my position as well. If I am good, I will play – if I am not good, I will not play,” he added, taking nothing for granted. “I can be the only one on the position and still you have to prove on the pitch. Next season I have to do more. I am looking forward to the next season as well.” Things should get easier off the pitch for Perraud, with his girlfriend – who had been living in France for work - set to make a permanent move to England. “From July we will be together definitely,” the ace said with a smile. “It will be a good year for me for the next season. “It was not easy but you know, when you play football and you have been making sacrifices for a long time, what you have to do to be on the top. “I love England. I love the culture and the passion for the football,” he explained. "I live in Winchester, a quiet city and it is not so far from Southampton or London. "When you have a day off you can take time to discover different places. This is good for me, my girlfriend and my family as well.” 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
Romain Perraud
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton defender insists Hasenhuttl retains squad support #SAINTSFC

May 14, 2022
ROMAIN Perraud has declared “we are behind” manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and it is players who create performances, following chants aimed at the Austrian last weekend. The 24-year-old defender played 90 minutes as Saints lost 3-0 in a dismal display at Brentford, a seventh loss in 10 league matches. In the final 10 minutes, some of the excellent travelling supporters turned on the boss with chants of ‘sacked in the morning’ and ‘don’t know what you’re doing’. Perraud, who is enjoying his first season in English football after a summer transfer, insists it is the players who should take responsibility in the disappointing run. The best possible answers 🔴⚪️What a game Big Frase 🤩👏🏻Thank you saints fans 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻#SaintsFc pic.twitter.com/DwutxrxdWX — Romain Perraud (@Romain_Perraud) April 16, 2022 “The last game was not good,” the former Stade Brest full-back told the Daily Echo. “We were expecting to have more because we have shown more during the season. “To be honest, I was on the pitch so I didn’t hear the chants or songs. But for me, like I said, performances come from players. We have to do more, we are behind the gaffer, definitely.” Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (Pic: PA) Perraud continued: “Sometimes, for example at Brentford, it is hard because we played well during the first-half but then took two goals. We are not in a good period and we have two games to show the difference between the last game. “It is a bit disappointing at the moment, we play Tuesday against the best team in the world and I think it is the best game to show an answer for our fans and for everybody who supports us. We have to give a big look against Liverpool. "Maybe we need a win. It is simple, but we need a win. We play against maybe the best team in the world, but it is maybe the best game to show what team we are. "During the season we have shown against big teams, great results, like Man City at home and away, United the same, Tottenham, Arsenal at home, so to be honest I am confident about our mindset and our fighting spirit against Liverpool on Tuesday, because we will be ready for this big game." Romain Perraud in battle for the ball during the 2-2 draw at Brighton (Pic: PA) Saints play their final home game of the season midweek on Tuesday, May 17, when EFL Cup and potentially FA Cup champions Liverpool visit. The Reds, who are still in the running for the Premier League title and have reached the Champions League final, face Chelsea for the coveted FA Cup on Saturday. Perraud, who has 20 Premier League games under his belt, could face an individual battle with FWA player of the year Mohamed Salah – but says there is no pressure on Saints. “Exactly. Mo Salah is one of the best players in the world and in the Premier League. It’s a big challenge for me, for us,” the Frenchman added. “I think we have no pressure for this game, because Leeds lost against Chelsea two days ago so we will be in the Premier League normally for next season." Jesse Marsch’s side would require an 18 goal swing and to win both of their remaining matches, without Saints picking up a point, to catch the St Mary’s outfit. Leeds United were defeated 3-0 by Chelsea on Wednesday (Pic: PA) "You know it was not official. Before Leeds and Chelsea, imagine if Leeds won against Chelsea, we would prepare the game against Liverpool differently," he admitted. "So this is why we look at these last two games, last season the team had 43 points at the end of the season, so we have a big challenge to beat this objective this year. “You know, Liverpool have to win absolutely to win the title so our last game at home we just have to enjoy,” Perraud insisted. “To enjoy the moment, give everything for the fans, St Mary’s will be full so in front of our fans and family we just have to play football. This is the key.”
Romain Perraud
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Saints left back Romain Perraud admits Burnley ‘wanted it more’ than Southampton #SAINTSFC #BURNLEYFC

April 23, 2022
SAINTS left-back Romain Perraud said the intensity was “not Southampton” after Ralph Hasenhuttl's men were swept aside by relegation-threatened Burnley at Turf Moor on Thursday night. After a promising start, Clarets struck first in the 12th minute when Connor Roberts curled into the top corner from just outside the box. A dominant first half for the hosts got even better moments before the interval when Nathan Collins rose highest at a corner to nod home and make it 2-0. “We are disappointed about the result,” Perraud told the Daily Echo after full-time. “We lost against a team who wanted it more than us. “In football, when you don’t have good intensity, when you’re not aggressive, you lose the game normally. This is why we lost. "We have to forget this game and be focused on Brighton on Sunday." He added: “Burnley play to stay in the Premier League. We knew this team would begin the game with good intensity, very aggressive. But our championship is not over, we have to play for the best position in the league. “If we can finish in the top 10, we have to take this. And (Thursday) it’s not the way to play. It’s not Southampton. We play with very good intensity and we missed the game - simply.” Perraud was drafted into the team for Saturday’s impressive 1-0 victory against Arsenal at St Mary’s and Hasenhuttl kept faith with the same starting XI - only to see very different results as his Saints side crumbled in Lancashire. “I think we have to find consistency,” Perraud added. “Because we lost 6-0 to Chelsea, we then won against Arsenal and (on Thursday) we lost in Burnley. Five games (left)…if we want to finish in the top 10, we have to be consistent. Because it’s not enough right now.” The 90 minutes at Burnley was Perraud’s 17th appearance of his maiden Premier League campaign after joining last summer from Brest. Ahead of the trip to Brighton on Sunday, Saints sit 13th in the Premier League table - one point adrift of the 10th-placed Seagulls.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl explains why he started Romain Perraud over Kyle Walker-Peters #SAINTSFC

November 29, 2021
KYLE Walker-Peters was dropped for the trip to Anfield as Ralph Hasenhuttl explains his decision to reintroduce Frenchman Romain Perraud.  Perraud, 24, made his first Saints start since the 2-2 draw with Burnley in October as Saints were demolished 4-0 by Liverpool on Merseyside. He started as a left-wing-back in Hasenhuttl’s five-man defence, despite right-footed Walker-Peters having impressed initially sceptical supporters with his impressive attacking performances. Tino Livramento made his 13th consecutive Premier League start and that meant former Spurs man Walker-Peters was limited to just a couple of minutes at the end of the long-gone match. And speaking after the match, Hasenhuttl explained the decision to the Daily Echo, revealing: “I wanted another left foot on this side who wants to play inside with his left foot, I think this was the goal. “We had a few good moments from this, with Romain, but in the back five I think it is, and he has played it in some games this season where it has worked well, but again today the individual quality playing you have seen what happens. “It was not possible for us today to do it like this.” Perraud arrived from French Ligue One side Stade Brest in the summer as a direct replacement for Ryan Bertrand, but has been embroiled in a battle with typically right-sided Walker-Peters since. The former France under-21 international has made six starts in the Premier League this campaign, yet to contribute a goal or assist and has registered two clean sheets.
Romain Perraud
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RomainPerraud says he like’s the culture and passion in England #SAINTSFC

August 18, 2021
AS WELCOMES into English football go, a packed Goodison Park is a good sign of what to expect. Ramped up that extra notch by the fact last weekend represented the first time stadia had been full in the Premier League for around 18 months, playing in front of more than 30,000 raucous Evertonians was what greeted Saints new-boy Romain Perraud. The 23-year-old, who has visited England to watch Premier League matches from the stands before, got his first taste of the action on the pitch, named in Ralph Hasenhuttl's starting line-up for the season opener. Inside the old-school English venue, left-back Perraud, who had spent his whole playing career in France prior to this move to Saints, was quickly engaged in a battle with wily campaigners Seamus Coleman and Andros Townsend down the flank. It was not to be a dream debut for Perraud, as he and Saints fell to a 3-1 defeat. But the trip to Merseyside was still one to remember for the former Nice and Brest man. Perraud told the Daily Echo: "For me, it was my first game here. I feel good. I think it was a very emotional moment for me, for everybody because the fans returned in the stadium. "It was very amazing. The game, we lost, but for a first game I think it was good. "I’ve been here for six or seven weeks. I feel good. "Here is the best championship in the world. I need to improve, I need to progress, but I feel good because the club is good. Everybody helped me to integrate collectively." As for settling into English life, Toulouse-born Perraud added: "When I arrived I was with my father, so I did my quarantine with my father. "After, my girlfriend came. But she is working in France, so sometimes she comes, sometimes she goes back to France. "But it’s okay. For example for one or two weeks I am alone, then after my girlfriend comes, also my father and my mother. It’s good. "I was in England three years ago and four years ago. Every time during Christmas. "I like the culture. I like the country. I like the football here. "When I came I was in London and I watched many games, like Crystal Palace v Arsenal I remember, Tottenham v Chelsea. So it was very good. I like the passion here." Having come up through the youth ranks at Nice, whilst former Saints boss Claude Puel was in charge of the first team, Perraud was handed his senior debut by the man who replaced Puel at the helm, renowned coach Lucien Favre. He played in a Europa League dead rubber against Krasnodar in December 2016. Perraud played twice more in that competition the following season, alongside some familiar faces to English football fans in Mario Balotelli and Allan Saint-Maximin. A loan move to Paris FC in the second tier followed, before he left Nice altogether in 2019 after discussions with new boss Patrick Vieira. After two strong seasons at Brest, the first of which he played alongside Saints midfielder Ibrahima Diallo, Perraud made the big switch across the Channel. "I was in the academy in Nice so I know Allan Saint-Maximin and I know Mario Balotelli," said Perraud. "For me it was good, because I was young and Nice was a great team with great players. "But after you can’t compare the French league and the Premier League, for me. Because it is not the same players, it is not the same intensity. "Ligue 1 was a good championship, but here I think the difference is every team is competitive. It’s not the same level." Signing early in the transfer window allowed Perraud a full pre-season with his new team-mates. That included a week in Wales, where the Frenchman showed off his other sporting skills, specifically table tennis. "Here I know that people love golf or cricket," said Perraud. "But I have never played golf. "I like rugby, because my father was a coach in a rugby league, in France’s first division. I like tennis, I like NBA. "(In Wales) I think the manager was not there when I played (table tennis). "I played against Oriol (Romeu), against Che Adams, Mikey (Obafemi) and Moi Elyounoussi. "It was a good tournament and good moment for us."
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl wants defensive ‘change’ and praises #RomainPerraud #SAINTSFC

July 22, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl heaped praise on Saints’ summer signing Romain Perraud but insisted the club’s defensive record is “something we have to change.” The 23-year-old French full-back was the first new acquisition of the current campaign, signed from Stade Brest at the start of July for an undisclosed fee. Perraud, who made the France Ligue One Team of the Season in 2020-21, signed a four-year deal and acts as a direct replacement for departed Ryan Bertrand – now at Leicester City. The full-back has been heavily involved in the summer pre-season training with the Saints squad, including being pictured on the side’s cycle through New Forest. Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, Hasenhuttl said: "(I’m) very pleased. Getting him here, he is a character that’s perfect to our club, to our team. “A hard worker, offensively with some good habits, quick player, left foot and right foot. “Defensively is a guy who likes to defend on the front foot. A little bit similar to Kyle (Walker-Peters) on the right side. “He had a fantastic season in France last year and decided to come to us and after Ryan Bertrand has left, we knew we needed a very good replacement.” Saints had a torrid time at the back last season, only keeping nine clean sheets in 38 Premier League matches – and conceding 68 goals, of which only relegated West Brom let in more. Eight of those shutouts had come by January 4, when Saints were sixth placed and had just beaten league leaders Liverpool without conceding to pick up three consecutive clean sheets. After earning just one more for the remainder of the campaign, it has made clear what Hasenhuttl wants to do. When asked about the defence, he added: “Absolutely no question. This is definitely something we have to change because it automatically leads us to a better position. “That is why we were up the table, so we need to change it and make sure it’s all year, change the behaviour.” Saints reportedly have a behind-closed-doors match against Championship Fulham on Saturday, before a trip to Wales sees them take on Swansea and Cardiff in pre-season friendlies. Athletic Bilbao then visit St Mary’s on Saturday, August 7.
Romain Perraud
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- WhatsApp chat with #IbrahimDiallo helped convince #RomainPerraud to join Saints #SAINTSFC

July 6, 2021
NEW recruit Romain Perraud revealed conversations with fellow Frenchman Ibrahima Diallo helped convince him to make the move to Saints this summer. Left-back Perraud completed his move to Saints last week, penning a four-year contract after arriving for an undisclosed fee from Ligue 1 side Stade Brest. Saints' Premier League rivals West Ham, Newcastle and Leeds were all reportedly interested in signing the 23-year-old, who played 36 times in the French top flight last season. However, a familiar face among the Saints squad helped swing the deal. Perraud and Diallo were teammates at Brest during the 2019-20 campaign, before the latter made the move to Saints himself in October of last year. “Yes, before my signature I sent many messages on WhatsApp with Ibra Diallo,” Perraud told the Saints website. “He (Diallo) spoke with me about the club, the environment of the club and he told me good news. "Ibra is a very good person, so I can have confidence in him." Diallo featured 26 times in his debut season for Saints. But it was not only conversations with Diallo which saw Perraud plump for Saints. “For me, it’s the best league in the world, the Premier League. I’m very excited to try to challenge myself in this championship," he said. “When I was young, I would watch the games on the TV." He added: "The discussion with the manager was very important. I spoke with Ralph Hasenhuttl many times. "He spoke with me about tactics and the way to play. It was very good for me and I think there are similarities in his play and also mine." And Perraud was pleased to get the deal completed ahead of pre-season, which begins for Saints this week ahead of the 2021-22 campaign getting underway at Everton on August 14. "It's very important for me to meet the players before the season, because during the preparation you can integrate into the group," he said. "It's good for me and I want to start quickly, to meet the manager, players and medical staff." Asked how much he knew about Saints' history, Perraud added: "From the past I know many players, like Kevin Keegan and Peter Shilton, and I know this club has won one FA Cup in 1976. "I know this club. There were many good players here, like Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott, who is here now. "I'm excited to begin."
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl says We have tracked #RomainPerraud for a long time #SAINTSFC

July 3, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed how Saints had been tracking the progress of left-back Romain Perraud “for a long time” and added: “He fits our profile for this position very well.” The St Mary’s side had been on the hunt for a full-back, with Ryan Bertrand exiting the club following the expiration of his contract this summer. But in the signing of Perraud from Stade Brest, for a fee which could reportedly rise to £12million, the Austrian boss admits he is delighted to get his man. He told the club website: “This is an important first signing for us. “Clearly, left-back is an area in which we were looking to strengthen and we have tracked Romain for a long time because he fits our profile for this position very well. “He is a high energy, robust guy with good aggression who will bring lots of energy to our play. He has good quality with his delivery from wide and is very competitive with his defending.” Perraud passed his medical and completed the move with Saints set to return for pre-season training on Monday. And Hasenhuttl is eager to see his new recruit hit the ground running. He added: “Completing the transfer before the start of pre-season allows him to start training with us immediately, learning our way of playing and tactical behaviours. “I think Romain will fit in well with us and we can help him develop his game further and maximise his potential.”
Romain Perraud
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Saints sign French full-back #RomainPerraud on four-year deal #SAINTSFC

July 3, 2021
SAINTS have completed the signing of French full-back Romain Perraud from Ligue 1 outfit Stade Brest. The 23-year-old has arrived at St Mary’s for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year contract on the south coast. The likes of Newcastle, West Ham and Leeds had all been reportedly tracking the highly-rated defender but boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has got his wish of adding a left-back to his ranks this summer. The Toulouse-born star told the club website: “I’m very happy to be a Saint and I can’t wait to start this adventure. “I think it’s the best club for me. The manager explained to me the project of the club and for me that’s very important. “He spoke with me about tactics, of the way to play, and there are similarities in his play to mine. The feeling was very good, so now I’m here and I’m very happy.” Perraud was a key figure for Brest last season, playing 36 times and starting on 35 occasions. An attack-minded full-back, he scored three goals and registered seven assists to help his former side finish 17th in the French top flight. Saints also dealt with Brest last year in securing the services of midfielder Ibrahima Diallo for £12million back in October. Perraud, who also spent a season on loan at Ligue 2 side Paris FC, came through the youth ranks at Nice and went on to play four times for the club at senior level. A France youth international, he joined Brest in 2019 before now sealing a move to play Premier League football at Saints. Defender Perraud comes in following the departure of Ryan Bertrand, whose contract at St Mary’s officially expired this week. The new recruit is set to join up with Saints’ squad as they begin their pre-season back at Staplewood on Monday.