Quit after another 9-0? NEIN!
HASENHUTTL SAYS THE BACKING FROM SAINTS FANS AFTER DRUBBING TELLS HIM HE’S AT THE RIGHT CLUB
RALPH HASENHUTTL thanked Southampton fans for backing him after the 9-0 midweek massacre at Old Trafford and told them: “Don’t worry about me resigning – the opposite is true.”
The Saints boss was blown away by messages from Saints supporters which ended any inclination to resign.
Hasenhuttl had suffered another nine-goal hammering, at home to Leicester, just 16 months earlier, but the outpouring of support made him feel “emotional” after four consecutive defeats – the last two blighted by atrocious VAR decisions.
He said: “After this result I received unbelievable messages from fans that had a big impact in lifting me and the players. I want to say a big, big thank you.
“We didn’t deserve to get such a big lift because we didn’t do a good job at all.” Southampton were reduced to 10 men in the second minute at Old Trafford when teenager Alex Jankewitz was red-carded for a lunge at Scott McTominay.
“We were a bit shocked about the early red card for a young player who was a little bit over-motivated,” said the Austrian gaffer. “He apologised today in front of the team.
“But the support I have seen from the outside... I must say I have never had so much in my managerial career and I don’t want to resign. The opposite is definitely true. Now I know that I am at the right club. The squad feeling is that we had this experience once before and what happened afterwards was the reaction that everyone wanted to show.
“It led us to 11th position. We now have a different team, different characters.
“We have learned that games like this can happen from time to time, especially when you get punished in the way we have been. But it is up to us now to show what kind of team we are. The good thing is that after every setback you suffer you see a new hope.”
Hasenhuttl said spirits at St Mary’s had been lifted by the arrival of on-loan Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino, who goes straight into the squad for tomorrow’s game at Newcastle.
He said: “We have a fantastic new player. He showed in the first training session immediately that he can help us and that gives us all a lift, an emotional lift.
“That is what we need at the moment and we are really looking forward to the game at Newcastle at the weekend.
“We know that it is a tough situation now after losing four times in a row. It is time to show we can do better.”