Ralph Hasenhuttl said that Southampton need to add more depth to their squad after the Saints’ fitness problems contributed to Wednesday’s 5-2 thumping at the hands of Manchester City, while speaking to Hampshire Live.
Pep Guardiola might insist that no team has given his City side such a scare in the opening 20 minutes of a game this season, but platitudes like this will matter little to Hasenhuttl.
Southampton have now lost nine of their last 11 games – conceding three or more goals in five of those – and are glancing nervously over their shoulder as the relegation zone looms into view.
To make matters worse, Theo Walcott, Danny Ings and Oriol Romeu have now been joined in the treatment room by Moussa Djenepo, who lasted just 45 minutes at the Etihad before coming off with a groin strain.
After a game in which Jack Stephens, Ryan Bertrand, Nathan Redmond and Mohamed Salisu were forced to play out of position to cover the gaps in an injury-hit squad, Hasenhuttl is counting down the minutes until the transfer window swings open.
“He has a bit of a problem with his groin. He had one duel where he has injured his groin and he felt it a little bit. This is the topic for the summer, I think,” said the former RB Leipzig boss, whose side were flying high around the European places before the injury curse struck.
“When we are a good side, we have a good development with the ball – but we need to have more stability and more physical strength.
“Some of these guys need to be fitter in future. This is something we need to discuss at the club and we have to change in the future.”
Hasenhuttl was impressed by the way Stephens, Bertrand and, in particular, Salisu went about their business in unfamiliar roles against the runaway league leaders.
But if the opportunity arises to bring in some-much needed cover in full-back and central midfield, expect Hasenhuttl to sieze it with both hands.
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