Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has likened Southampton to Premier League champions Liverpool ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League clash at St Mary’s, speaking to the Manchester Evening News.
They don’t call Ralph Hasenhuttl the ‘Alpine Klopp’ just because of his tendency to sprint down the touchline like a madman when his team score a crucial goal.
Like another former Bundesliga boss, the Southampton coach has constructed a style of play built on a blueprint of relentless heavy pressing, fast transitions, interlinking forwards and flying full-backs.
Hasenhuttl’s Saints have bounced back brilliantly from their 5-1 home thumping by Tottenham on Matchday 2 and, after a brief flirtation with top spot, remain five points clear of Man United heading into an intriguing clash of two in-form sides on the South Coast.
And Solskjaer isn’t the first to point out the similarities between Hasenhuttl’s rhythmic beats and Klopp’s self-proclaimed ‘heavy metal football’.
“It is similar to when Jurgen came to Liverpool. (Hassenhuttl) likes pressing, front foot, aggressive. (Southampton are) difficult to play against if you dwell on the ball. It is very interesting to watch their progress under Ralph,” Solskjaer explains.
“I am a big admirer of the physical attributes they have in their team.
“They are one of the top teams (in the league). (They have) made great improvements so we know how difficult it will be. We drew twice with them last season.”
Solskjaer adds it’s “very unlikely” Scott McTominay or Paul Pogba will be fit to feature at St Mary’s on Sunday.
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