Southampton: The importance of Maya Yoshida to the club

Going into Hasenhuttl’s first full-season in charge of Southampton and the team getting younger, veteran leadership is needed now more than ever.

One thing we know about the Austria Ralph Hasenhuttl is he expects a lot of his players. He is demanding and unapologetic about letting his players know what he expects of them and how hard they should work.

A manager like this can be tough on younger players who do not necessarily have to confidence and understanding that the tough love is only meant to make them better. And this is where players like Maya Yoshida come in.

30 years of age is by no means old in today’s world but on this team it makes him one of the oldest while also being one of the longest tenured Saints on the squad. The Japanese international has seen it all in his time at Southampton. From record high finishes in the Premier League to back-to-back relegation scraps and a slew of managers. Yoshida has been there for it all and has always worn the Southampton badge proudly.

For the younger players on the team, who have not had the experience of a full Premier League season, the going is tough at this level when so much is expected of you from the fans, the coaches, and yourself and it can quickly feel like a giant weight is being built up on a players shoulders.

We recently saw it with Nathan Redmond, just two seasons ago. He expected so much of himself and put too much pressure on himself to perform he ended up hurting himself more than helping.

With his age, maturity, and experience, Maya Yoshida can be a guiding example for this team of how to act and carry yourself throughout the season. He is proud to represent the club he has called home since 2012 and has always been a professional on and off the pitch.

It is going to be a demanding season without a doubt. Fans do not want to see another relegation scarp, Hasenhuttl wants to start proving himself even more as a manager, and just the spotlight of playing in one of the World’s biggest league is enough to wear anybody down.

They may not recognize it at the time but when their playing careers are winding down or over they will look back on it be happy they had a man like Maya Yoshida there to show them ins and outs of being a professional footballer at the top level.

This will be the defenders 8th season in the to-flight of English football and if there is any one on the team who knows how to make it through a season as a member of Southampton it is, Maya Yoshida.