FourFourTwo UK – September 2019

SIMONPEACH@SIMONPEACH

34 Season Preview 2019-20 FourFourTwo

SOUTHAMPTOn

Rarely has a manager both unified and enthused

a fanbase as immediately as Ralph Hasenhuttl

at Southampton.

When Hasenhuttl joined on December 5, Saints were

on their haunches and heading for the Championship,

having taken just nine points from 14 matches under

Mark Hughes. That dismal return jolted the club back

to life as they scoured Europe for a new coach, and

this time they came back with a manager more like

Mauricio Pochettino than Mauricio Pellegrino.

Those who weren’t aware of the credentials of the

man who gave Ingolstadt their first and second ever

HOW FAR CAn THE HASEnHUTTL

REVOLUTIOn TAKE SAInTS?

PREMIER LEAGUE

2019-20

Bundesliga campaigns, before leading promoted

RB Leipzig to 2nd place in the top flight, were soon

won over by the power of Hasenhuttl’s personality

and the forward-thinking nature of his approach.

“If you want a guarantee, buy a washing machine,”

quipped the quotable Austrian at his unveiling. Yet his

impact on Southampton’s performances was both

instant and striking. Back-to-back wins over Arsenal

and Huddersfield saw Hasenhuttl embraced by the

city to such an extent that, by Christmas, a sponsor

put up a ‘Ralphampton’ billboard outside St Mary’s.

“The difference has been unbelievable,” rejuvenated

James Ward-Prowse said. “We have a clear structure,

and a plan of what to do with and without the ball.”

This fulsome praise came with palpable excitement

from the ever-improving English midfielder, who will

be joined by more academy graduates as the new

campaign unfolds. Hasenhuttl isn’t afraid to go with

youth over experience, given his desire to develop

potential, and Saints’ summer transfer business –

their first two recruits being 21 and 22 upon arrival –

has helped to reshape the squad in his image.

An intense, focused pre-season will only improve

their pressing, intelligent football, meaning they could

sustain the kind of form that, at times last season,

was more akin to a side challenging for European

qualification than one attempting to beat the drop.

Hasenhuttl certainly has the Southampton fans

believing they can return to the top half after two

seasons fighting relegation. The manager has proved

to be a galvanising force at a time of disillusion. The

former Austria international is the kind of ambitious

individual who will attract admiring glances from

afar, but he appears focused and fulfilled at St Mary’s.

And, while Southampton’s destination is unclear,

the journey looks set to be enjoyable again.

LAST SEASON

PREMIER LEAGUE 16th

FA CUP Third Round

LEAGUE CUP Fourth Round

TOP SCORER

Nathan Redmond (9)