EVERY LITTLE ALPS
Saints boss Ralph looks for a peak performance v
Premier League: 3pm
BY ALEX CROOK
RALPH HASENHUTTL climbed to the top of the mountain to switch off from Southampton’s winless start to the season – and now hopes his team can do the same against Leeds today.
Hasenhuttl spent part of the international break in the Austrian Alps trying to escape the pressure of attempting to pilot Saints away from the drop zone.
He said: “You should be able to switch off from time to time, otherwise you will go mad.
“When we have time off at weekends we go home to Austria and to the mountains. It is a good time to relax and to get some energy.
“If you start doing this job, and I have been doing it for a long time, then you know that the wind on the top of the mountain is the strongest.
“You have to stand there and find the decisions and you have to stay there.
“We know this, otherwise you cannot do this job. You must do it in the way you did it all the time in the past years.
“We have a fantastic job. A Premier League manager is an interesting job every day, always different.
“And finally to release the pressure you need wins.
“We have not had one so far but the performances my team have shown have been much better than the result in some games.
“We need a few bits in our game to make it better and then the wins will come, I am sure.”
Saints chief executive Martin Semmens this week insisted Hasenhuttl’s job was not on the line despite a dreadful run of just four wins in 28 Premier League games.
Hasenhuttl said: “He does not need to say this publicly because I feel it every day.
“In the times we have been through together there were definitely more difficult situations than this one and we always find a way to get back to success.”
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“Again, I will say I wish Newcastle United fans all the best because my relationship with them is good and I hope it is good forever.
“But I’m here, I’m happy and trying to do my best, and I don’t like to talk about the other option because the reality is I will stay here.”
Benitez is enjoying life with Everton after a start which sees them fifth in the table, just two points off top spot, ahead of tomorrow’s clash with West Ham.
They have only lost one league game – against Aston Villa – while having chances to beat Leeds and Manchester United (Andros Townsend scoring against the Red Devils, below) in their two draws. The Toffees’ only disappointment was a Carabao Cup exit on penalties against QPR. But Benitez believes the mood around the training ground means they’ll continue to improve, too.
He added: “To be fair, at the beginning when you come to a new club and need to get to know the players, it could be difficult. But the attitude of the players, their commitment, was really good from day one.
“I was not expecting to do so well, but with the chances against Leeds, QPR and Man United, we could be doing even better. We can be quite ambitious and try to do better, even when doing well.
“My idea is one game at a time. If we continue with the same attitude – today was a great training session – and the same mentality, we will be better and compete against a lot of teams.
“We will lose games for sure, but we can do well and continue in the same way for a long time.”