The Athletic journalist Dan Sheldon has revealed a little insight into the way Southampton training sessions run and how that has impacted the club’s transfer business.
Southampton have seen some reasonably experienced players leave in the current transfer market. Danny Ings, Jannik Vestergaard, and Ryan Bertrand – all of whom were over 29 – have been replaced by individuals with a selection of younger talents.
Indeed, the likes of Tino Livramento, Adam Armstrong, Romain Perraud and Armando Broja – all under 25 – have been signed to replenish the squad.
While speaking on the Total Saints podcast, Sheldon outlined why manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s training sessions may have influenced the club’s current transfer strategy.
Sheldon said: “The way Ralph trains isn’t to everybody’s liking. You know, it’s intense, it’s hard. He expects a lot and not everyone wants to do that.
“So he will feel with the young players coming in – Tino Livramento, Adam Armstrong, Romain Perraud, Armando Broja – that they are all going to run through brick walls and carry out his instructions for him.
“And that’s exactly what he wants, they’re the people he wants in the building.”
TIF Thoughts on Ralph Hasenhuttl and Southampton…
It should come as no surprise that Hasenhuttl runs intense training sessions. The Austrian is known for the highly energetic way he wants his teams to play, earning himself the nickname, ‘The Alpine Klopp’.
Whereas the likes of Ings, Vestergaard, and Bertrand are all likely at, or beyond, the peak of their careers, the youngsters brought in to Southampton should all still have plenty more to prove if they want to impress.
This explains why the Saints have targetted youth to replace the experience, and it should hold Hasenhuttl in good stead if he does indeed demand his squad ‘run through brick walls’ for him this season.