A DEFIANT Ralph Hasenhuttl vows to fight on as Southampton manager

‘I’m not worried about the sack’: A DEFIANT Ralph Hasenhuttl vows to fight on as Southampton manager despite fourth defeat in a row after 4-0 thrashing by Manchester City

• Southampton were thrashed 4-0 by Manchester City on Saturday at the Etihad
• Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is under huge pressure after four defeats in a row
• The south coast side sit in 16th place, just one point clear of the bottom three

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted he would prepare the team for next weekend’s match against West Ham as usual despite mounting pressure on his future following a fourth straight defeat.

The Austrian was defiant after watching his side lose at champions Manchester City and plans to work with his players from today for next Sunday’s crunch game against West Ham, by which time Saints could be in the bottom three.

‘After this game, I have no clarity. The clarity is I come in on Sunday and we must analyse this game very well,’ he said.

Under-pressure Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl vowed to fight on after defeat to Man City

‘Next week we have a tough home game against West Ham. We have to prepare for three games in seven days, it is intense.

‘I’ve never thought about worrying for my future. I’ve never had such questions in my 16 years as a manager. I don’t lose any energy thinking about that. The only thing I think about is helping my team.’

Saints held City twice last season but were second-best this time at the Etihad. ‘It was a tough game against a complete team that showed all their qualities. We were not nasty enough to make them struggle like last season,’ said Hasenhuttl.

The Saints have now lost four games on the trot and sit in 16th place in the Premier League

City won thanks to goals from Joao Cancelo, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Erling Haaland

‘Without the ball, I thought we were brave. With the ball, not really. A lot of teams come here and you see their limits and we were one of them. They were too quick, too good on the ball. I had hoped to hurt them but we did not have the tools.

‘[Erling] Haaland makes it even harder to play against City for sure because you have a fantastic striker in the middle and it is easier for everyone around him to shine.’

After three home league hat-tricks in a row, Haaland had to settle for just one goal against Southampton and there were gasps when he hit the post instead of scoring when put through by Phil Foden.

‘The expectations are so high, people expect he can score three or four goals,’ explained City boss Pep Guardiola. ‘I think Erling played really good today.’

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