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A year ago Ralph Hasenhüttl’s air was thin after the biggest Premier League defeat in FC Southampton history. Now the ex-Leipzig is temporarily at the top of the table. Sky Sport lists four reasons for the surprising success.
With the humiliation 0: 9 in his own stadium, Ralph Hasenhüttl made history with his team on matchday 10 of the previous Premier League season: rival Leicester City claimed the highest victory in Premier League history at Southampton. After the match, Hasenhüttl was more than told, the team ranked 18th in the table and urgently needed relegation.
Featured video: Hasenhüttl’s “saints” jump to the top of the table
However, the Austrian overcame this crisis, brought the club to a safe midfield and is THE surprise team in the league this season. For the first time since 1988, the southern England club took first place at the end of a matchday. Sky sport It shows you four reasons for the rise of the “saints.”
Pressing im RB-Style
Hasenhüttl plays a 4-4-2 system with Southampton as he did when he coached RB Leipzig. The 53-year-old made a name for himself in the Bundesliga thanks to aggressive pressure.
Due to the high acceleration, the quick victory of the ball must be forced with early pressure. This now works in England too – in their most recent win against Newcastle, Southampton scored both goals after taking the ball close to the opponent’s penalty area.
Well balanced template
Although Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, a mainstay of the team, moved to Tottenham, Hasenhüttl still has a very good mix on the roster. The defense surrounding former Bundesliga pro Jannik Vestergaard looks well rehearsed, James Ward-Prows, who has already played 239 PL games despite his 26 years, shines in midfield, and the club also has the right players in the offensive.
Because with Danny Ings (five goals of the season in the first seven games) there is a real scorer in the squad. In the past season, the 28-year-old scored 25 times in 42 competitive games. The former Liverpool forward is currently injured, but with Che Adams, Hasenhüttl has another center forward in top form up his sleeve – the 23-year-old has scored three times in PL’s last four games.
There are also sensible rookies like the veteran Theo Walcott (almost 400 competitive matches for Arsenal) or the young Ibrahima Diallo (he came from Brest for 15 million euros).
Siege in 50/50 matches
Another strong point for Southamptons turned out to be the performance in duels against teams on an equal footing. Four of the five wins were against teams with similar potential (Burnley, West Brom, Aston Villa and Newcastle). If this strength is maintained, more than one place in the table in midfield is definitely possible.
Standards as a real weapon
It’s not just the two forwards Ings & Adams who score goals, Hasenhüttl also has a real gun in his own ranks with Ward-Prowse. The Briton scored twice with a direct free kick in a furious 4-3 win over Aston Villa.
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In addition, the Southampton veteran (he has played for the Saints since young) added another goal to Vestergaard with a free kick. The Dane with German roots is always good for a header with his 1.99m height.
For the away game on day 9 of the Premier League, Walcott, Vestergaard & Co. should look to Wolverhampton Wanderers with a lot of self-confidence. (Saturday, November 21 at 4 pm live on Sky) get. Then the winning streak of three games in a row will be extended and the flight of highs will continue.
(SkySport.de)
Featured Image: Getty
