RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted “a defeat always feels like a defeat” but stressed the result was the least important aspect of a hotly-contested 2-1 loss to Villarreal. Saints end their summer warm-ups with just one win but, trialling a new five-at-the-back shape throughout, will now be more confident going into next week’s curtain raiser.
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “A defeat always feels like a defeat but the result today is maybe the least interesting for me. Against a very good opponent against the ball we have seen how things are working in the shape, how tough it is to press in this shape when you don’t have enough players up front. We know this.”
Saints, although Spanish giants Villarreal controlled the game for the majority of spells, could have won the match for a second time at St Mary’s this week. Moussa Djenepo was among those with a handful of good chances, while Aribo’s header was disallowed just minutes after the Nigerian international had equalised.
Ralph Hasenhuttl added: “But what was very positive today was the way we stressed them in some moments, against one of the best defensive teams in the world. Moussa today had three chances, scored a goal with Joe and had one offside with Joe. Some good moments today and some positive things that are good to see. We have still in some moments missed the right way of defending, so this is still something that needs to get better. But for the young lads today this was a good game to come into the stadium, but you learn a lot I think and nothing comes immediately.”
