Hasenhüttl on keys to Leicester game

By SFC Media time Sat 12 Jan Leicester v Saints

Ralph Hasenhüttl says Southampton must be alert to Leicester City's threat on the counter-attack when they visit King Power Stadium today.

Saints are looking to make it three successive Premier League away games without defeat when they take on the Foxes, and build on the encouraging 0-0 draw at Chelsea in their last top-flight outing on the road.

In order to do that, Hasenhüttl has told his players not to make it easy for Claude Puel's side to launch any swift attacks on them.

"We have to be aware about the counter qualities that they have, with a lot of speed with [Jamie] Vardy in front, so we can't have any easy ball losses in the centre," said the Saints boss.

"For us, we want good transition forward and then it is best we finish the action and come back in our shape.

"If we are in our shape it is not so easy to score against us, like we showed against Chelsea. They are a good team who weren't able to score and that's what we need."

While Hasenhüttl is conscious of making life difficult for Leicester's attack, there is also plenty of focus putting his own forward players into dangerous positions at the other end.

we have to get our best performance on the pitch, otherwise it will be difficult.

ralph hasenhüttl
southampton manager

"For us, if we get the ball, and also win it deep, then we have the quality to switch forward very quick and try to get our pace on the ground," he said. "If we do that then we have a good chance to score.

"We can score, we know. We have always the quality to create chances and to score goals, but to get a clean sheet we have to take 90 minutes with very concentrated defensive work and that's 100 per cent necessary against Leicester.

"You see the individual quality they have, and we have to get our best performance on the pitch otherwise it will be difficult."

Related

Match Pack: Leicester vs Saints
chevron right
Away Guide: Leicester City
Leicester v Saints

Away Guide: Leicester City

Get set for Southampton's trip to the East Midlands.

timeFri 10 Jan
Long: Renewed optimism Hasenhüttl pleased by Ward-Prowse and Long displays Video: Spacey-Cale reflects on debut season video05:38
video
Women's First Team

Video: Spacey-Cale reflects on debut season

Marieanne Spacey-Cale talks through first Championship season.

Livramento on never losing confidence Edozie and Young Lions kickstart U20 World Cup campaign