Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton boss responds to question on Fraser Forster future #SAINSTFC

April 16, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl has reiterated there is “nothing that we could announce” on the future of Fraser Forster, as his contract runs down into its final months. The 34-year-old goalkeeper has re-emerged as the Saints number one since Alex McCarthy’s injury back in December, but as it stands is still set to leave the club at the end of June. Forster has made 19 appearances in all competitions this campaign, including 14 in the Premier League – and is approaching nearly eight years since arriving at St Mary’s. The Hexham-born former Newcastle United product even resurrected an unlikely England career with a shock call-up as emergency cover by manager Gareth Southgate. However, there is still nothing more the club can reveal on his future, “nothing that we should announce or could announce,” Hasenhuttl insisted, anyway. “You can be sure that as soon as we have something to announce we will tell you first,” he added. “He grabbed his chance with all you could do and if you want to pick last weekend, the one player who was nearly on his best performance level was Fraser. “It’s not so easy after this long break that he never played that he has such an intense time now but I think he handled it quite well and definitely he is a player who did a very good job this season.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl speculates media circus as explanation for Mohammed Salisu form dip #SAINTSFC

April 16, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl speculated that media attention surrounding Mohammed Salisu could have contributed to the defender’s recent performances – calling it “a typical example”. The 22-year-old Ghanaian centre-back has received national plaudits following an impressive first full Premier League campaign with Saints, missing just two league matches so far. Salisu has topped defensive charts such as interceptions even up to now, with countryman Asamoah Gyan labelling him a “top three” defender in the league. However, since missing the 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa through a minor injury, the promising youngster’s game has been riddled with individual error – with Saints failing to win any match altogether. Mohammed Salisu's poor back-pass handed Watford an opening goal in March (Pic: Stuart Martin) Poor decision making at the back led to goals in both of the St Mary’s defeats to Chelsea and Watford, but Salisu is not the first Saints player to decline in performance after a media circus. Striker Armando Broja has scored just once in the Premier League since it was made public that Saints were trying to keep the loanee at the club, after scoring versus Brentford. Asked why Salisu’s performances have dropped off, Hasenhuttl responded: “Maybe since you have talked about how good he is, I don’t know. “The Man City game was where they all praised him for being fantastic and it was his last really good game he played.” Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (Pic: Richard Crease) Salisu put in a man of the match performance as Saints held champions Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s in January. The likes of Newcastle United were subsequently linked to the defender towards the end of the winter transfer window. “It is always difficult for you as a manager to say what is going on in the background with him and all the things, all the rumours but I think this is a typical example of how quickly you can lose the focus and drop with your performances.” He continued: “I think it’s on me - and you can be sure that I speak with him very often about that – to get his head clear, because the last performances have been far away from what he has shown this time. He is a good package normally, we all know.” Only James Ward-Prowse has played more Premier League minutes than Mohammed Salisu this season (Pic: Stuart Martin) Salisu is under contract with Saints until 2024, after arriving from Spanish side Real Valladolid in August 2020, and The Athletic report that a resolution to an agency issue has opened the door to new terms potentially being discussed when the time is right. Saints have seven matches remaining of the current campaign, though, with every position in the Premier League being worth around £2million more. Salisu is likely to start again for Hasenhuttl when Arsenal visit St Mary’s on Saturday, April 16. “At the moment we are having the issue also with Ramadan sometimes and for these players it is not so easy,” the boss added. “Some handle it better, some don’t feel so energetic so these are the issues you have as a manager with some players sometimes. “But for me it is important that he gets back to the Sali he was before these last two or three games.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Hasenhuttl ‘not surprised’ at Southampton fans anger after Chelsea mauling #SAINTSFC

April 15, 2022
RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted “I’m not surprised they (supporters) are angry” after their 6-0 defeat to Chelsea last week, but insisted “we still have a lot to play for” in the final seven games. Saints have had a hammer blow to their hopes of landing a top-half Premier League finish for a first time under the Austrian’s tenure, going five matches in succession without a win. Only picking up one point, with a 1-1 draw at Leeds United, in that time, it is fortunate that Hasenhuttl’s side are still within one point of the top 10 and could achieve their targets. Crystal Palace, Brighton, Aston Villa and Brentford are all within one or on level points of the St Mary’s side, and Saints will face all of them but Villa in the run-in. Hasenhuttl and his charges were booed at half-time of the eventual 6-0 defeat to Chelsea last weekend, while supporters have vented their frustrations in the week since. “I am not surprised that they are angry about us,” he insisted. “When we are at half-time 4-0 down, what do you expect? I think it was a not good enough performance so it is understandable I think. “You see how tough it is in the Premier League, it is not about home or away, we have shown perfect performances away – very good ones with points. In general, we still concede too many goals. “This is what we have to stop because it is not always possible to score two or more goals to win a game. In general this is something that we have to quickly change.” After consecutive clean sheets versus Norwich and Everton in February, Saints have gone on to concede 15 goals in the five Premier League matches that have followed. It takes their total goals conceded to 52 – a record that only four teams in the division have exceeded, including bottom teams Watford (60) and Norwich (63), Leeds (68) and Newcastle (54). However, Hasenhuttl reassured fans, adding: “We have still a lot to play for, we have our target – a top 10 finish. “It would be the first time in five or six years that we are in this level and we have a chance this season, definitely. “It is a big goal for us and we need to win from these seven games three or four otherwise there is no chance of doing this.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl reveals every PL game requires a new solution and game plan #SAINTSFC

April 15, 2022
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted Saints had to be “the more willing team to win” as they look to bounce back to form against Arsenal on Saturday. Smashed for six against Chelsea last time out, the St Mary’s side have lost five of their past six games in the Premier League heading into the home contest at St Mary’s. They face an Arsenal side who have lost three of their past four fixtures. Hasenhuttl said: “It’s always about who has the better game plan, who finds the better solutions for this day, who scores in the right moment. “With all the force we put in this week, we have to be the more willing team to win this game. “I think this is what we have to show because this is the reaction everybody expects from us.” Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were 3-0 winners when the sides met back in December, thanks to goals from Alex Lacazette, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel. “To defend them you need to be good, committed,” added the Austrian boss. “To have also the right pressing line, the right height of the back four. When you have this, it is very tough to score goals. “But I think we have shown, especially in the first 15 minutes of the away game against them, that we can cause them some issues. “One mistake when they play with one touch through our lines and scored the first goal. It was a little bit too easy I think. “We know this is a good team and when you are not doing it perfect, they can definitely stress you. We have to find a way where we have a good balance of what we need.”
Pep Guardiola
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Pep Guardiola reveals big problem in squad after Atletico Madrid battle #MCFC

April 15, 2022
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted his treble-chasing side were in “big trouble” after picking up injuries in the Champions League. A 0-0 second leg draw in a fiery clash away to Atletico Madrid secured a 1-0 aggregate win and sent the Premier League leaders into the semi-finals. Their injury concerns will initially be seen in the context of their FA Cup semi-final clash with title rivals Liverpool at the weekend. But Albion fans will also be keeping an eye on the state of play with City given their team go to the Etihad next Wednesday when league action resumes. City saw Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker both go off with injuries at the Wanda Metrropolitano and Phil Foden left the pitch heavily bandaged. “We are in big trouble,” Guardiola told BT Sport. BRIGHTON'S JAKUB MODER REPORTS SUCCESSFUL SURGERY “We cannot forget we played three days ago a tough game against Liverpool. "We came here, we have a lot of injuries. "I don’t know what will happen in the next weeks but today we are going to celebrate. “It is the third time in Manchester City’s history we are in the semi-finals of the Champions League and it is a big success for us to be there.” Guardiola did not mention how severe the injuries were, while he also claimed he had “nothing to say” on the ugly scenes which marred his side’s progression on Wednesday night. The match ended in rancour and bitterness with scuffles on the field and in the tunnel.
Nathan Tella
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton ace Nathan Tella opens up on injury battle after revealing a week became months of injured status #SAINTSFC

April 14, 2022
NATHAN Tella admits this season has been one “where I’ve learnt the most about myself”, after missing nearly three months through a 10-day injury that he just could not shake. Playing less than 90 Premier League minutes until the end of November, 22-year-old Tella had then broken into Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side with six starts – interrupted themselves by a COVID absence. However, the sixth – away at Wolves during the 3-1 defeat on January 15 – was still his most recent. The academy graduate revealed how a tear in his hip led to an extended nightmare. “It did take a lot longer. It was meant to be a couple of days, maybe a week,” Tella said. "I had a tear in my hip and for some reason, blood kept getting into the tear and it just wasn't healing. Nathan Tella made a return as a substitute at Leeds United this month (Pic: PA) “I wasn't able to sprint to my full pace, so it was quite painful and a 10-day injury turned into a six-week, seven-week injury, which wasn't ideal. "But I think it was probably better for me to come back when I did rather than rush it and end up out again for even longer. Everything is back to a similar level now and it is just about playing games and trying to get involved in the team." It was a blow at an overwhelmingly positive time for Tella, who had just signed a new three-and-half year contract with the club – to extend his St Mary’s stay until 2025. After making 18 Premier League appearances and scoring his first top-flight goal across 750 minutes last season, Tella’s action has been limited to 11 matches and just under 600 minutes so far this. Nathan Tella's only goal this season came in EFL Cup competition (Pic: PA) He made a return to the side as a late substitute in the 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road, following the international break. “I’d say it’s been quite frustrating but it’s probably the year where I’ve learnt the most about myself,” he continued. “At the start of the season I wasn’t playing as much as I wanted to, I was only seemingly playing in the cup and that was quite challenging when obviously all I wanted to do was play football. “And then I had the period where I was in the team and I was playing, and even though I didn’t feel like I was playing my best football I was happy I was playing and able to be a part of it. Good point away from home against a tough opposition. Happy to be back out there! pic.twitter.com/0RCdwbQ4hz — tella (@NathanTella_11) April 2, 2022 “Picking up the injuries was another setback in the season which wasn’t ideal, but now I’m back I’m hoping that I can have a better end to the season – it seems to have been up and down, a bit like a rollercoaster. So hopefully I can end on a high. It’s been long.” Asked what he is referring to by learning about himself, Tella elaborated: “I just mean it in a sense that because I wanted to play, but it’s about not beating myself up if I make silly decisions in the training sessions. “If I give the ball away I might have looked at it like, ‘this is why I’m not playing or not getting an opportunity’, but I feel like I just needed to find myself and just relax in those moments, just be confident in the training sessions and then that will relay to the pitch. “I feel like once I found that confidence in training, it started to help in my performances on the pitch.” Saints’ next match after Tella sustained the injury, a 1-1 draw with Manchester City, started a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions. Saints' impressive run included a 3-2 win at Tottenham Hotspur (Pic: PA) The optimists began to look up the table and into the top-half as the good times rolled, but Saints’ academy graduate could only watch on from the rehabilitation room. “It was quite frustrating because obviously you want to be part of the team when winning and they’re performing well,” Tella admitted. “They had the unbeaten run and played well in so many of those games, but as a teammate I was so happy for the team and as a fan I was so happy for the team. “Personally it was obviously a bit disheartening because I wanted to be involved, I wanted to have the same emotions as the team and as the fans in the stadium, but that’s football – it’s part of the game, you’re going to pick up injuries. “Now I’m back I’m hoping to get into the squad and hopefully get onto the pitch and play some games to end the season.”
Che Adams
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton star CHE Adams reveals players were not worried about getting 9-0 drubbing from Chelsea #SAINTSFC #ChelseaFC

April 12, 2022
CHE Adams insists he was not worried about another nine-goal drubbing during the 6-0 Chelsea defeat because “we played much better than the other games”, despite conceding “it wasn’t good”. The Scottish international played 90 minutes of the ill-fated Manchester United trip last season, while he watched on from the bench as Leicester City tore St Mary’s to shreds before that. However, even with Thomas Tuchel’s Blues six goals to the good with 35 minutes left to play on Saturday, 25-year-old Adams claims those horrors did not cross his mind. Che Adams has not found the net since Norwich in February (Pic: PA) They certainly did for supporters, with the stadium bowl filled with the drone of nervous murmuring once the Chelsea celebrations had subsided. Adams had Saints’ only real chance of the game, but fired straight at goalkeeper Eduoard Mendy from close-range after Kyle Walker-Peters’ perfect delivery. “Yeah everyone is not happy with the result,” Adams admitted. “We weren’t at our best but you know, it’s one of those days. “Some days you get it wrong and they were very, very good today, everyone knows how well we can press but today wasn’t our day and we have to dust ourselves off and go for next week.” Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (Pic: Richard Crease) He continued: "When you let easy goals in it’s hard, you dig yourself a hole that we have to climb out of. They were good and it killed the game for the second-half how we conceded so early. It wasn’t good.” Asked if the previous 9-0 defeats he had witnessed haunted him while manager Ralph Hasenhuttl turned to damage limitation, he insisted: “Not so much today actually, no. “We played much better today than the other games, we created chances but they were clinical in front of goal and took their chances.” If it was not for 34-year-old out-of-contract goalkeeper Fraser Forster, it just might have been anyway. Goalkeeper Fraser Forster was impressive despite conceding six (Pic: Richard Crease) Forster faced 14 shots on target from the Chelsea onslaught – in comparison to Saints’ solitary one in reply – making eight saves, including efforts right in the bottom and top corners. Timo Werner and Mason Mount were both denied certain goals that would have eventually added up to their hattricks, yet Forster did not face another shot after the 61st minute – as the European champions took their foot off the gas. The only criticism you could have had of Forster was that his early miskicking did little to settle the nerves, before Chelsea’s grip began to strangle the home side. “He saved a few attempts on goal and we didn’t protect him enough defensively as a team, definitely,” Adams admitted, speaking about the former England international. Che Adams had Saints' only effort on goal, shortly after the half-time break (Pic: Richard Crease) “It’s really a shame when you’ve got a keeper that’s doing everything he can do but we didn’t help him.” While some fans vented their frustrations towards the team or manager at half-time, Adams adds that most of the support was picked up on by the players. “The majority of the fans stayed and were clapping us towards the end so we really appreciate that,” he continued. “It’s not nice as a player or as a fan to sit here and watch your team go through that but we have to dust ourselves down and go again next week.”
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Graham Potter backs Robert Sanchez to reach highest level #BHAFC

April 12, 2022
Robert Sanchez has been told he can reach the “very highest level”. Sanchez has been speculatively linked – along with other goalkeepers - with interest from Newcastle, although their reported £20 million valuation of him looks low. Seagulls boss Graham Potter said: “I don’t know what headlines he has had but from our perspective it’s quite clear that he has the capability to play at the very, very highest level. He has got that potential. “The only thing that’s missing is the games and the experience which playing in the Premier League, especially in front of crowds, can really help. WHY PREMIER LEAGUE TIME WAS RIGHT FOR MOISES CAICEDO “He has got the capacity to make world class saves. “I’m just delighted for him that he has been able to make them and help us win a game of football.”