Hasenhüttl’s coaching ensures there is no need for Southampton’s summer recruits to be thrown in at the deep end
Southampton’s win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday evening has lifted them up to fifth on the Premier League table. Ralph Hasenhüttl continues to mastermind an exceptional start to the season, and with the exception of five substitute appearances from Ibrahima Diallo, culminating in just over 20 minutes of action, each of the players who have propelled Saints to these early heady heights were on the books long before the recent summer transfer window.
Undeniably, it is a testament to the manager. Southampton have been, in many ways, a mixed bag: sloppy at times; exhilarating at others; but never boring. What has been a constant, though, is the depiction of an extremely well-drilled, cohesive unit, which has benefitted from the patience and relentless work ethic of their manager. Hasenhüttl knows that the deficiencies within his squad will not be resolved by significant investment from the hierarchy under which he operates, but ensures such restrictions do not hinder the progress of the players at his disposal. He is an excellent tactician, but his ability to develop his players is bettered by few others in the top flight of English football.
Southampton were by no means at their best at Brighton. They went a goal down after a rare lapse in judgement from James Ward-Prowse to hand Pascal Groß the chance to score from the penalty spot, which he duly accepted. However, in a display comprising collective mettle, efficiency from set-pieces, aggressive defending across the pitch, and penetrative runs from deep, the visitors triumphed.
Jannik Vestergaard connected with Ward-Prowse’s corner to score his third headed goal of the season on the stroke of half-time, laying the foundations for Southampton to complete their comeback after the break. Danny Ings, freshly back from minor knee surgery, again proved the match-winner as he coolly converted an 81st-minute penalty after Solly March brought down Kyle Walker-Peters just inside the area.
It wasn’t pretty, and in this respect, it was reminiscent of Southampton’s 1–0 win at Burnley early on in the season. In previous campaigns, these types of fixtures have seen Saints slip up, succumbing to defeats despite having the opportunities to overcome their counterparts. This term, however, Saints are managing games in a more effective manner; their second-half collapse against Manchester United last weekend is, on the evidence of the fixtures thus far, more of an anomaly than a recurring theme, whereas last season, Southampton would be only too prone to capitulations in the face of pressure.
Most telling about this transformation is that it involves more or less the same group of players, and those who found themselves somewhat on the fringes have since risen to prominence. Ché Adams has cemented his position up front; Oriol Romeu has the unwavering trust of the manager; Vestergaard has undergone a revival unlike many seen before at Southampton. This is no coincidence; the hard work of the aforementioned players, coupled with the tactical nous and emotional and footballing intelligence that Hasenhüttl boasts, is dramatically improving the team’s fortunes. While an obvious short-term benefit for Southampton, though, it is also painting an optimistic picture of the club’s long-term future.
Hasenhüttl has often spoken about the recruitment strategy of Southampton under his watch. Particular profiles and personalities are targeted, most of whom fall in the age category of players under 24, and these individuals should possess the qualities to improve the Saints squad in the here and now, but primarily to emerge as outstanding players in the not-so-distant future.
Adams and Walker-Peters, particularly, struggled to secure places in the starting line-up in the opening exchanges of their respective Southampton careers, but having rapidly grown under the watchful eye of Hasenhüttl, they are now staples of a genuinely impressive Premier League team. Djenepo, meanwhile, started his Saints career brightly but has seen injuries halt his progress, even if he is now beginning to string together a run of games. Each of these players has the capacity to influence matches positively for Southampton in the immediate future, but it is the bigger picture that appears most exciting. They are all under 24 years of age, have all displayed signs of enormous potential, and are all clearly trusted by Hasenhüttl to feature prominently in the years to come.
It is wise to consider that Southampton’s most recent summer signings could follow similar paths. Diallo has been on the periphery of the first team, coming off the bench late on in five matches, generally operating in an unfamiliar position on the right-hand side of the pitch. Mohammed Salisu, meanwhile, has yet to kick a ball for Saints as Hasenhüttl continues to carefully manage his fitness. Walker-Peters and Walcott have, of course, slotted into the picture more quickly, but this owes to the former’s prior experience of the tactical structure and the latter’s knowledge of the Premier League and versatility.
Both Diallo and Salisu have arrived with justifiably impressive reputations. In Ligue 1 and La Liga, respectively, they were widely regarded among the finest young players on show, and the two have only recently emerged on the senior footballing scene. Before moving to Southampton, Diallo had amassed just 24 appearances in the top flight of France, while Salisu’s breakthrough season in 2019/20 saw him play 31 times in La Liga. Though approximately £25 million has been spent on the 21-year-olds, it would be unreasonable to expect them to immediately step up to the mark in a foreign environment and perform to the desired standards. Hasenhüttl is only too aware of this, as evidenced by his careful management of the pair, and their arrivals have still provided benefits.
Healthy competition is vital in any squad, and the presence of these two bright youngsters has undoubtedly dealt senior members within the ranks with food for thought. Diallo has clearly been recruited to eventually start alongside Ward-Prowse in the double pivot at Southampton, but the excellent form of Romeu this season indicates that the France Under-21 international will face an uphill battle to displace him. Similarly, Salisu’s arrival has provided the existing centre-backs with the task of enhancing their performance levels; while Jack Stephens has been left somewhat lacking, Vestergaard has emerged as one of the club’s outstanding players.
Both had found themselves in and out of the team at various points last season, with Vestergaard’s future at St Mary’s under serious scrutiny midway through the campaign, but now it is incomprehensible that either will find themselves absent from the starting line-up. The arrivals of promising players in their respective positions have most likely contributed to their significant upturn in form, but they have both been the beneficiaries of exceptional coaching from Hasenhüttl, displaying greater tactical intelligence and consistency than ever before.
Neither player is without their faults. Vestergaard was the best player on the pitch at Brighton but was, at times, guilty of finding himself out of position after making marauding runs forward. Romeu, too, was occasionally sloppy with his distribution of the ball, even though he did achieve a remarkable tally of 15 ball recoveries in an excellent, battling display at the Amex Stadium. However, they both carried out the demands of their manager to perfection, snuffing out Brighton’s attacks in central areas and, courtesy of Vestergaard in particular, piercing through the lines with powerful ball-carrying and incisive, vertical passes.
The newfound confidence displayed by the pair, as is the case with the entire starting line-up, ensures that Southampton are a force at both ends of the pitch. What it also ensures, though, is that Hasenhüttl can depend upon the experienced heads in the squad to usher in the next generation, leading by example in the Premier League and executing their tactical responsibilities to near-perfection, while also preparing the likes of Diallo and Salisu for their eventual progression to more involved roles at the club.
It’s only natural for supporters to relish witnessing their newest players in action, particularly given that one has featured strictly in brief cameo appearances, with the other making his first matchday squad only on Monday night. However, it is evident that there is no pressing rush to throw these precocious young players in at the deep end, not least while Hasenhüttl’s ability to extract the very most from his trusted servants continues to pay dividends in the form of points.
After years of mismanagement and poor planning, Southampton are now once again a club that boasts a talismanic figure who can nurture and develop players – young and old — all while over-achieving on the pitch. Ralph Hasenhüttl belongs to a rare breed of managers in the modern game, and he should be cherished for as long as he represents the football club.
