The new Saints manager has been speaking to the press ahead of his first home game in charge of the team and it couldn't be much tougher with Arsenal as the visitors.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has spoken on five key points in his pre match Press Conference

Team news:
“We have good news that there are a few players who are coming back this week.

“Danny Ings, Shane Long and Cedric Soares have all trained twice this week and once with the whole squad.

“Jack Stephens has a little problem with his knees and we can’t see at the moment how bad it is.”

2. Cancelling the players' day off:

“It’s been an interesting week which started with cancelling a day off on Monday.

“We met to speak about our contents and what we want to change on the pitch.

“The players appreciated that, and I think we spent this time well to perform better on the pitch.”

3. Training with intensity:

“On Wednesay, we had two hours training and it was very intense, both physically and mentally.

“It is to try and get the new content into their minds.

“It’s all about building up the basics and not the fanfare.

“The basics should always be the same. Being close to each other and trying to keep the distances between the players the same.”

4. Fixing the players' mindset:

“For us it’s important that we become a team that isn’t easy to play against.

“It was too easy for us to let goals in the last time.

“The fixtures we are facing now aren’t the easiest but it’s also a big chance for us to surprise everyone.”

5. As A Team:

“I know Aubameyang from Germany and he is showing that he is one of the best strikers in Europe.

“You can’t defend in a one v one situation against them, you need to do it as a team.”

“I think it’s not so difficult to get a good atmosphere in St Mary’s. It needs one chance against such a team and they are immediately behind us and help us,”

“That’s what we try to do from the first minute on, and it’s really all about being brave and also have good ball possession and good decisions and deep runs, good transition after winning the ball, transition not only at the back but also the front.

“For us it’s important that we should become a team that is not easy to play against.

“It’s right that the fixtures we are facing now are not the easiest but it’s a good chance because nobody expects us to beat Arsenal. But I see a chance to make a surprise for everyone.”

A focused view from the Saints manager and to be blunt I have learn't more from this conference than I learn't from Mark Hughes in his entire time in charge, gone are the banal comments , perhaps Ralph Hasenhuttl may not turn out to be the manager we have all hoped for, but form his first week in charge he certainly offers a lot more charisma, passion, honesty and hope than the last three we have had and that has to be a good thing.

Photo: Action Images

schatfield added 16:32 - Dec 14 It is refreshing to hear his comments especially after Mark Hughes. Good news on Long being back too. Most fans knock him because of a lack of goals, but he is a true team player and brings so many attributes to the squad, goals aside. Welcome back Shane.
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davidargyll added 17:09 - Dec 14 Just read this on another site (by Dusan Tadic): "At Southampton, for example, I knew it was hard for certain players to really play football. It just wasn’t a part of their game." This is exactly why I think we really are capable - and by that I mean every player - of playing one helluva lot better than we have been. Just because they have been playing lousily for the last season or two doesn't necessarily mean they are rubbish. JWP is a case in point: I reckon he is, or certainly has been, one of our best dead ball kickers and if RH can get him playing to his full potntial, then I bet you all those people who keep saying he's crap will soon be eating their words!

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I_would added 17:34 - Dec 14 I'm going to be starving then because I won't be eating any words, that's for sure.
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davidargyll added 18:24 - Dec 14 Oh ye of little faith...!
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SanMarco added 19:03 - Dec 14 I would love to 'eat my words' over JWP and Long and all of our CBs but would be inclined to agree with 'I would' in terms of not having to get my knife and fork out. If Hasenhuttl can restore our faith it will be wonderful but ii will be a hell of a job davidargyll. The quality isn't there in certain key areas but, having said that, my cutlery is handy in the drawer awaiting match-winning performances from Long, Yoshi and JWP - my words would taste very sweet if it meant victory vs the Gooners !!

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underweststand added 19:25 - Dec 14 Obviously this is only the first week of the new regime, and to be fair... few would expect us to suddenly start gaining points when looking at our december match fixtures, especially after "giving away" so many points in recent games against "lesser opposition". If we put up a good show against Arsenal ...then win, lose or draw... I think most people will appreciate that it will take time to get back to winning ways, but feel encouraged. If we do grab a win..then Arsenal 's manager will start to complain about the half dozen injury cases he has , when in reality our squad is much weaker than theirs to start with and the loss of Long, Ings and Bertrand has surely weakened the team even more in the last month and anything we get from this game will be a real bonus against an Arsenal team that has been unbeaten for 20 games ? COYR !

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SaintBrock added 19:39 - Dec 14 He didn't look quite so upbeat as he did last week but his pressers so far have been fully focused on matters in hand and fantastically open, honest and interesting. After Hughes a parrot would seem less repetitive but this guy knows the walk and can talk!
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IWOZTHERE added 19:46 - Dec 14 FF became a 'statue'. JWP is a 'statue' in open play. Ted Bates statue moves forward more often.
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ottersaint added 20:45 - Dec 15 Love it love it LOVE IT .. Come on SAINTS FANS get behind Ralph he is absolutely the best person to take us forwards, judge him in January 2020!!! He is getting the squad FIT and hopefully they’re buying in to it, (if not c u next Tuesday’s), can’t wait to see if Ralph can actually bring out the best in Shane Long as Pep has in Sterling! Why not, let’s start with a clean slate, day off cancelled, when tf did that last happen???? Come on Saint Ralph.. let’s do this...

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Bettwsresident added 20:58 - Dec 16 Hope.....Fecking hope! where had that been. What a great game and we scored at the end...go looking for the goal says Ralph and we did...COYRS PS long scored plenty when Koeman was boss. He has potentail and teh cross for CA was just sooooooo perfect, as was Target's, as was Redmonds. Quality play by the team
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