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Southampton: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg calls for ‘sacrifice’

By Chris Hughes

WIGAN, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton (23) celebrates as he scores their first goal during The Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Wigan Athletic and Southampton at DW Stadium on March 18, 2018 in Wigan, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
WIGAN, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton (23) celebrates as he scores their first goal during The Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Wigan Athletic and Southampton at DW Stadium on March 18, 2018 in Wigan, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /
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Ahead of the Saints’ difficult end to the season, midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has discussed the huge responsibility the players have.

Southampton travel to face Leicester tomorrow night in what can be seen as a ‘do or die’ game for the away side. Five points off the pace with five Premier League matches remaining, they could mathematically escape even if the gap does get wider but it would become even more of an improbable task.

Claude Puel, much like with the Saints, has guided Leicester to a steady top-half finish, but has played much of the same boring football that the Southampton supporters came to loathe. Saying that, all Saints fans would happily take their position from last season as they stare relegation dead in the eye.

A lot of Southampton’s players have had their commitment questioned lately – Ryan Bertrand was seen laughing with Chelsea players have his side’s capitulation to the Blues this past weekend, whilst Mario Lemina’s Instagram stories don’t seem to show much care for the dire situation the club are in.

Next: Clubs lined up for Ryan Bertrand

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 14: Eden Hazard of Chelsea runs with the ball under pressure from Oriol Romeu of Southampton and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary’s Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 14: Eden Hazard of Chelsea runs with the ball under pressure from Oriol Romeu of Southampton and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary’s Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images) /

However, one man who has always shown grit is Pierre-Emile Hobjerg – contributor and Twitter admin Ed addressed this in it’s own piece last week. The Dane has called for his side to show passion and desire to keep the side up today.

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"“We need fighters and we need people who want to sacrifice. Everyone here wants to do that and that is a good thing.“The next few weeks is life-changing – wherever our paths go, and wherever all our ways go, whether it’s short-term or long-term, this will all change our lives, this will all change our way of looking on football.”"

The midfielder has had a resurgent season, having failed to make his mark under Claude Puel and struggling for first-team football at the start of this campaign. Despite the arrival of Mario Lemina, the ex-Bayern man has become a first-team regular and is now seen as one of the side’s most reliable and consistent performers.

Last time out against Leicester the Saints were hammered in an embarrassing 4-1 defeat at St. Mary’s – they will hope they can avenge this when the two sides meet tomorrow night.

"“I promise you, I promise to the fans, and I promise to the people standing outside, there is not one single person inside here who wants to be in this situation. There is not one person who actually thinks ‘Oh, this may be good for me in a way.’ Everyone is suffering.” – Hojbjerg"

Kick-off at the King Power Stadium is 7:45PM – the Saints face Chelsea just three days later in the FA Cup semi-final too.

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