Ralph Hasenhuttl appeared to be a dead man walking on the St Mary’s touchline after his side were defeated by a Premier League record-equalling 9-0 against Leicester City, with three winless matches following as the Saints slipped to 19th in the league. However, after a drastic change in form Southampton currently find themselves 13th in the Premier League seven points clear of the bottom three. The club should be praised for their incredible bravery in electing not to sack their current boss even after the record defeat.
Not only was the club’s decision to hold their nerve vindicated, but manager Hasenhuttl has worked wonders to mastermind seven wins from his last 11 top-flight matches, having previously won a meagre two this season. During the recent upturn, the Saints have distanced themselves from the drop by getting the better of fellow strugglers Watford, Norwich City and Aston Villa. But more impressively the Austrian manager also oversaw victories against Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City, all of whom are in the top five.
While Southampton may have crashed out of the FA Cup at the fourth-round stage, fifth-placed Spurs required a replay to overcome the Saints, after the south coast side had defeated Huddersfield in the previous round. Forcing Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham to a replay and pushing them to a produce a late winner was a signal of how seriously Southampton have taken the cup competitions despite their Premier League struggles. For both games, Hassenhuttl named full strength squads as Southampton hunt for their first piece of silverware since the 2009/10 EFL Trophy.
Furthermore, Southampton also fielded a particularly strong side in both of their Carabao Cup victories over Fulham and Portsmouth, before eventually succumbing to Manchester City in the round of 16. Even for that clash with the Premier League and League Cup holders, with Southampton sitting 19th at the time, Hasenhuttl had the bravery to name his strongest eleven and provide his opponents with stiff competition.
Overall it has been a successful season for the Saints despite a turgid start to the season. In both cup competitions, they have eventually lost to higher placed Premier League sides and cannot be accused of fielding second-string players, while in the top-flight they have put a run together to see them clear of the relegation zone. Hasenhuttl had repaid his club’s faith, and Southampton are heading towards a ninth consecutive Premier League campaign.
