FRAN’S FAITH IN RALPH’S SAINTS PLAN

SOUTHAMPTON legend Francis Benali has told Saints fans not to panic despite their horrendous 2021.

Ralph Hassenhuttl (below) has seen his side win just FIVE times in

23 Premier League games this calendar year.

They started the campaign with a poor 3-1 loss at Everton last weekend.

But even though they have lost Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard, Benali, who made 389 appearances for the

Saints, reckons it is not all doom and gloom.

The ex-full-back, 52, is encouraged by new boy

Adam Armstrong, who scored on his debut, and reckons further signings will push Southampton into top-10 contention.

Benali said: “It is more difficult now with the spending power of others. But casting my eye back to my playing days part of

our appeal was to compete against the bigger boys and still be successful.

“We can’t kid ourselves that we had an absolutely dreadful

2021.

“We’ve lost a lot of players and the supporters are getting edgy.

“It’s happened in the past, it’s happening now, and it will happen in the future for us so we need to make sure we make good acquisitions. Adam Armstrong couldn’t have started any better.”

Southampton famously beat Man United three consecutive times at home in the 1990s. And Benali has told United they will not enjoy their trip to St Mary’s today. He said: “With fans back under a full stadium for the first time in a long time what better way to get our first Premier

League win?”

Francis Benali: The Autobiography is available to buy now (Bloomsbury, £20.00)