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Southampton: Hasenhuttl reveals contact from Alex Ferguson after 9-0 loss

By Marc Walker

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager of Southampton looks on prior to the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton FC at American Express Community Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Brighton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager of Southampton looks on prior to the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton FC at American Express Community Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Brighton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images) /
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Southampton have experienced the full range of emotions during the 2019/20 season, with their lowest point being their 9-0 loss to Leicester back in October.

A recovery to 14th in the table meant that plenty of mental resolve had to be shown by Ralph Hasenhuttl and his players, and the Saints boss has revealed he was given a boost by one of football’s greatest ever managers after the club’s record defeat.

The Austrian received a message from Sir Alex Ferguson despite never being in contact with the former Manchester United great and says that it helped him get back on track in a difficult time.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Hasenhuttl said:

"“I received an SMS from Alex Ferguson. I didn’t know him before, but if I had never lost 9-0, I would have never had contact with him. This was the positive thing from the result. It was really helping me and giving me a lift.”"

Hassenhuttl: I said to the board if I was you I'd sack me

"I'll have to live with this result my whole life."Ralph Hassenhuttl has revealed what the aftermath of Southampton's 9-0 loss to Leicester was like and how his team bounced back.Watch the #SkyFootballShow each day from 9 to 11am on SSN, Sky Sports PL and Main Event 📺

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What this story shows is that there is a friendly network of help for managers when they hit tough times and don’t know how to get out of a rut.

Sir Alex Ferguson was one of the fiercest competitors whilst he was still managing and would do anything to ensure that his Manchester United side won on a Saturday afternoon.

However, contacting Hasenhuttl to provide messages of support proves that there is a mutual respect between managers in the game.

Whatever Ferguson’s message was, it seemed to work.

By the end of January, Saints had worked their way out of trouble and claimed wins over Watford, Norwich, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Spurs, Leicester and Crystal Palace.

Hasenhuttl’s side really started to play in the way that he wants his teams to play – high-pressing football in a 4-2-2-2 system where the opposition are hunted down if they make a mistake in possession.

Saints are now seven points clear of the bottom three and will see that as a strong position should the 2019/20 season resume.

They have had a brief blip in their form though. Three points from a possible 15 in the Premier League have seen the standards slip, but Hasenhuttl will have his team prepared to go again – whether that be this season or next.

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