Some Southampton fans have been left to eat the harsh words that they had said about manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, following the club’s recent 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
The Saints are now unbeaten in as many as four Premier League games, as a Danny Ings goal saw them beat Spurs 1-0 at home. Their unbeaten run also includes a 2-0 win over Frank Lampard’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (Sky Sports).
Southampton fans: Did you ever doubt Hasenhuttl?
Always knew he was good!
He's silenced by doubts!
The club is now up to 12th in the Premier League, just five points off fifth-placed Spurs. And following the win, many Saints fans have been left to eat their words of criticism about manager Hasenhuttl.
Absolutely deserves to be smiling again. What incredible character to come back after the result that shall not be spoken of. Fair play, get that man a pint
— Tim Foley (@salessaints) January 1, 2020
Great to see him smiling. Well done Ralph. Great team effort.
— SaintsFc77 (@Fc77Saints) January 1, 2020
Me to Ralph after ever having any doubt in him pic.twitter.com/NxNA5ejAS5
— Chicago- SaintsFC (@Chi_Saintsfan) January 1, 2020
I was never Ralph out, but towards the end of our bad spell ounces of doubt did creep in; always backed him though
— Ethan Evans (@EthanEvansSJ) January 1, 2020
Gotta admit my faith was tested but happy the club stuck with him because he has shown amazing leadership to dig us out
— Alex Watson (@floweringsnows) January 1, 2020
I started to doubt if he could turn it around playing players out of position, formations that didn’t work, now we have a settled side and players that are wanting to play for the badge so glad my doubts have been put to bed #SaintsFC
— Jason Lewis (@jason_lewisj22) January 2, 2020
This is Hasenhuttl’s first job in England and it has been a little over a year since he took over the club, as Mark Hughes was sacked around the turn of the year in 2018. Hasenhuttl helped the club survive relegation last season, but doubts had crept up after the club’s recent 9-0 loss to Leicester City.
Hasenhuttl was at RB Leipzig before he came to the Saints. Before that, the Austrian was at then Bundesliga club Ingolstadt and at VFR Aalen too.
Since losing 9-0 to Leicester though, the Saints have improved their form. They have lost only four Premier League games, drawing two of them. They have won five of their games and that includes wins over Spurs and Chelsea.
What do we think?
Hasenhuttl took his time but he is finally turning things around at the club. Unlike Watford, who made reactionary decisions by sacking two managers within half a season, Southampton stuck with their man and put some patience in. That is paying them dividends currently.