Hasenhuttl: 'I hope I have enough energy for rest of my Saints deal'
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl jokes ‘I hope I have enough energy’ for remaining three years of Saints contract after ending draining winless streak in his 100th game at the club
- Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has hit the 100 games mark for the club
- He did it with a crucial 2-0 win over Sheffield United, ending a rough streak
- Hasenhuttl has been emotionally drained by the Saints’ slide this season
- He insisted he needs a ‘bigger squad’ to be able to see-out the rest of his deal
Ralph Hasenhuttl was his usual brooding self as Southampton finally ran into form at Bramall Lane.
Even at 2-0, he dramatically clasped his head in hands as further chances went begging for Nathan Tella and Takumi Minamino.
The emotional investment Hasenhuttl puts into every situation explains why Saints are the first club where he’s stayed 100 games, a milestone he reached on Saturday.
Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted this season has been an emotionally draining one at Southampton
The Saints ended a disastrous winless run at Sheffield United, winning 2-0 at Bramall Lane
Hasenhuttl is hoping for a bigger squad this summer to be able to cope with injuries
The former Leipzig coach sees great potential at the club and signed a new four-year contract last summer. But he’s self-aware enough to know he can only last the distance if the job becomes less difficult.
Saints were top in November until an injury crisis saw them collapse with a run of nine winless games including a 9-0 defeat at Manchester United.
That ended as they were far too good for bottom club Sheffield United with goals in each half from James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams.
‘It’s been ups and downs,’ said Hasenhuttl, reflecting on his century. ‘We have had some beautiful times, sunshine, and sometimes not. Wins here are more fun than anywhere else because it is special.
The Austrian shows his emotion after beating Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp in January
‘Hopefully I have enough energy for the next three years. It is by far the most time I have had at any club.’
If the last statement sounded somewhat downbeat, it was a clever wake-up call to the Saints board.
Hasenhuttl is ambitious and wants to work with a group who can cope with ailments and suspensions.
Kyle Walker-Peters, Ibrahima Diallo and Minamino were back to make a difference against the Blades.
Hasenhuttl will hope the Blades victory can provide a springboard back to their brilliant best
When Danny Ings limped off with a groin injury, the bench coped with Adams coming on and scoring a belter against his former club.
‘Our goal is to have a bigger squad — we need to have that next season because the Premier League season is so tough,’ added Hasenhuttl.
United boss Chris Wilder would love Hasenhuttl’s problem. His team played like one accepting relegation.
‘There won’t be many contenders for player of the season,’ he said. ‘It’s a tough gig because we’ve taken an awful amount of punches.’
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