The new Southampton goalkeeper got on the wrong side of Claude Puel while working together at Nice.
They say it is the quiet ones you have to watch. And, to outside observers, it appears that the softly spoken Southampton manager Claude Puel would not say boo to a goose, let alone volley a barrage of expletives at a young goalkeeper.
Not according to Mouez Hassen, the Saints’ January signing from Puel’s former club Nice, as reported by L’Equipe.
The 21-year-old Frenchman made 50 first-team appearances for the Ligue 1 side but, rather surprisingly, was dropped to the bench by his then and current manager midway through last season, replaced between the sticks by Yoan Cardinale and eventually falling to third choice under Puel’s successor Lucian Favre.
And Hassen has admitted that the Saints’ seemingly angelic boss can let his emotions spill out when required – although that is not to say their relationship took a turn for the worse as a result. Quite the opposite in fact.
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“He did the right thing [dropping me]. He didn’t do it randomly,” Hassen told L’Equipe. “At the time, I remember, he tore me a new one.
“He made me understand that there’s expectation at the top level. Mentally, he gave me everything.
“The will to win, the desire to not lose challenges. On and off the pitch, he has been essential to me.”
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Perhaps there is more to Puel than meets the eye. After all, you do not win the title with Monaco, guide Nice into the Europa League and take Southampton to a cup final without a ruthless streak.
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