Oriol Romeu made a rare Premier League start as Ralph Hasenhuttl took charge of Southampton for the first time away at Cardiff City last week.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has taken charge of just one game so far at Southampton, but Oriol Romeu is already feeling positive about life under the Austrian.
The Spanish midfielder found himself well down the pecking under under Hasenhuttl’s predecessor Mark Hughes after all, making just four starts in the Saints’ first 14 starts of the Premier League season with the Welshman preferring the likes of Mario Lemina and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in central positions.
But Romeu appears to be back in favour already under the former Ingolstadt and RB Leipzig coach, playing 80 minutes of the 1-0 defeat to Cardiff City in South Wales on Saturday.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, the one-time Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder has indicated that Hasenhuttl has already saved his Southampton career.
“It seemed to me that it was impossible to get a chance a few weeks ago. The old manager (Hughes) had other things in mind,” said Romeu, who moved to St Mary’s from Chelsea for £5 million in 2015.
“Luckily, against Cardiff my chance came. I am already looking forward to getting another chance.
“It’s been hard for the last few months I won’t lie. When a new manager comes in everything changes.”
On paper, Romeu could be a perfect fit for Hasenhuttl, with his energy and aggressive style in the centre of the park likely to appeal to a coach who has built his reputation on a high-octane style revolving around winning back possession as soon as possible.
The Spaniard is a natural-born ankle-biter who could provide some much needed protection to a shaky Southampton defence.
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