Hasenhuttl accepts importance of midweek clash with rivals AFC Bournemouth

 

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl during the Premier League match between Southampton and West Ham at St Mary's Stadium. Photo by Stuart Martin..

RALPH Hasenhuttl accepted the importance of Wednesday’s clash with AFC Bournemouth but insisted he retains “all the belief” in what Saints are doing.

The St Mary’s side visit the Vitality Stadium five points behind their fellow south-coast Premier League rivals after 10 matches.

Bournemouth, first managed by Scott Parker before Gary O’Neil took over on an interim basis, were firm favourites for relegation before the season began.

They were defeated 9-0 by Liverpool but are the only team in the division to remain unbeaten since, despite a difficult summer of recruitment and many feeling they have a weaker squad.

Saints, who are in the bottom three with eight points, must start picking up victories and crucially against teams they are likely to be competing with come the end of the season.

"For us, it's a Premier League game and an important one,” Hasenhuttl said, asked if there is any added incentive given the locality and shared objectives of the clubs.

“We go there and I think we know that they are in good shape at the moment, but we go there like we have always gone into in the past with all the belief in what we are doing to make it a good evening for us.”

The meeting comes off the back of a 1-1 draw with West Ham United, at St Mary’s, that ended a run of four straight defeats in the Premier League for Hasenhuttl and Saints.

It could have been a first win since the August victory over Chelsea, after Romain Perraud put Saints ahead and Che Adams squandered two big chances.

"For everybody it is very frustrating because these are the moments where you can make a big step forward,” Hasenhuttl admitted.

“But it would still be a long way to go. There's no guarantee that you win games but it makes it a little bit easier. And then you can definitely play a little bit calmer but we are never in the situation."

He added: "Let's say every point we get is a point gained and we know that we need every point.

“We are now going to Bournemouth and then against Arsenal so another two games this week. We have to be ready for the Wednesday game, immediately focus is on the game and hopefully we can get a win there."

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Ahead of World Cup, USMNT Star Christian Pulisic Reveals 1st Thing He'll Do Once He's Back in America

 

Christian Pulisic

John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images Christian Pulisic

In November, Christian Pulisic will go to Qatar to represent the United States in the Men's World Cup. As he prepares for the tournament, the 24-year-old star forward joined a video chat with another group of people who represent the U.S. overseas: military service members.

"No one's gonna be fully ready for it," Pulisic said about this year's World Cup, the first ever to take place in the winter, right in the middle of club season, during which Pulisic stars for Chelsea FC. "There's never been a World Cup in the wintertime. But I'm just so excited for it and I'll be ready when the time comes."

The Sept. 20 conversation included service members from military installations across the globe. It was organized by the United Service Organization, the non-profit better known as the USO, and hosted by Chris Jacobs.

Pulisic, a Hershey, Pa., native whose father was a professional soccer player, moved multiple times during his childhood — including to England and Germany, where Pulisic began his club career at age 16 with Borussia Dortmund. While talking with service members, he said he could relate to how it feels to be far from home.

soccer star Christian Pulisic at a virtual USO event

Courtesy USO

RELATED: Meet Christian Pulisic, the U.S. Soccer Team's 17-Year-Old Wunderkind to Watch as Copa America Kicks Off

"I know it can be difficult," he said. "When you start to get comfortable in one setting and then move to the next, it always seems like, 'I'll never meet the same kinds of people.' But when you go through that process, you learn so much more. You learn to give things a chance, to put yourself out there."

Pulisic was asked what the first thing he'll do when he returns to the U.S.

"Probably get some hot [chicken] wings," he said, adding that regular Buffalo and garlic parmesan were his favorite types.

soccer star Christian Pulisic at a virtual USO event

Courtesy USO

During the conversation, Pulisic recounted his path to soccer stardom, which he said began at the age of 2 when he started kicking a ball around. (His mother also played the sport at George Mason University, where his father played as well before his pro career.) Pulisic always loved the sport, and the fact that he had fun playing compelled him to work hard. In particular, he worked on his "first touch" after a pass constantly: His father would repeatedly kick a ball high in the air, and Pulisic would have to bring it down and control it as quickly as possible.

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"You gotta make sure that you love what you're doing," he said. "If you truly love and you're passionate about the path you're going down, when things get tough, you're not gonna quit, because you love it."

soccer star Christian Pulisic at a virtual USO event

Courtesy USO

RELATED: USO Celebrates 80th Anniversary After Humble Beginnings During World War II

A pivotal moment occurred on Dec. 13, 2013, when Pulisic was playing for U.S. Under-17 team in a friendly match against Brazil. On that day, Pulisic knew there were many scouts from top clubs in the stands, and the pressure was on to play well. He scored a goal and notched an assist on the way to a 4-1 victory. Now, he has a roman numeral of that date — XII XIII MMXIII — tattooed on his wrist.

"I thought that day was life-changing for me," he said.

Nine years later, he's preparing for the sport's biggest stage.

"It's incredible what this sport means to people around the world," he said. "It truly is a special game that can bring people together — but it also has some good rivalries."

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