Newly appointed Southampton manager Ivan Juric says his side are capable of “something extraordinary” as they look to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.
Juric, who previously played for Roma, Genoa and Torino, also compared his style of football to death metal music as he aims to turn things around at St Mary’s this season.
The Croatian will take charge of his first game on Boxing Day when Southampton host West Ham. The Saints currently sit at the bottom of the table with six points, eight points from safety.
Meeting with the media 📸 pic.twitter.com/Q65aECoVJZ
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 23, 2024
After Russell Martin was released, Juric signed an 18-month contract with Southampton. However, his task seems quite demanding, at least on paper.
In Premier League history, only four teams have survived from the same position as of December 25: West Brom in 2004-05, Sunderland in 2013-14, Leicester in 2014-15 and Wolves in 2022-23.
“It will be a very hard job,” said Juric.
“I know that in history no one has stayed in the Premier League in this situation, but I think there are a lot of good players and we have to be much better in some moments of the game.”
“I am optimistic. I’m really optimistic. Even recently I saw their mentality and it’s the first step to make it better. I think we can create something extraordinary. The boys have to be very motivated to do something that no one has ever done before.”
🆕 Yours #SaintsFC Team news for Ivan Jurić’s first game as coach:
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 23, 2024
Juric added that the Southampton job, challenging as it may be, was an attractive prospect and explained how a very specific genre of music influences his tactical approach.
He said: “It was a little dream, the opportunity for Southampton.
“I thought life was short, I wanted to try new things and try a different way of working, put myself in a difficult situation and that was it.”
“They (the players) don’t know me, but I know them. I said I believe in them, they have quality, they can do it. Be positive, work hard and anything is possible.
“When I was young I really liked death metal music and I think that’s something that’s also my football style.
“Work hard, push hard, play well, be intense, all those things. I think (the players) can do it.
“They are young, they are positive, they want to work hard. It’s not easy to change style immediately, but we have to be smart.”
