Southampton: Long heaps praise on Hasenhuttl and Saints after new deal

Southampton striker Shane Long has heaped praise on Saints and Ralph Hasenhuttl after signing a new two-year deal with the club.

An extension for Long had been widely reported before the official announcement on Thursday and it now looks like he will remain part of the first-team squad until 2022.

After putting pen to paper, the 33-year-old was full of love for his current manager and explained why he felt Saints are on the right track once again.

Speaking to southamptonfc.com, he said:

"“I think since Ronald Koeman left we’ve been trying to find the right manager and find the right fit, and I’ve got that feeling coming back again.“We’ve got the right manager and a group of players who are improving week by week, and I know the club wants to add to that and bring in more strength in depth. I can see the club pushing up the league, back to where we all want to be, and I want to be part of that.”"

Long’s comments really do go to show that players need a manager who has faith in them to perform well.

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The Republic of Ireland international has only been a starter for Ralph Hasenhuttl since December in the 2019/20 season but he has really proven his worth in the current system.

Hasenhuttl’s 4-2-2-2 fields two strikers, but both often have different requirements.

At RB Leipzig, the Austrian had Timo Werner and Yussuf Poulsen – a small, pacy finisher partnered with a taller, creative forward.

Saints look to have uncovered a gem of a finisher by signing a rejuvenated Danny Ings, but coming across their creator to pair with him was more of a problem.

Che Adams started the season in the team but failed to get his goalscoring or creative abilities flowing in the Premier League, and Michael Obafemi remains a very raw talent at just 19.

This left Shane Long as the next man to be tried alongside Ings and he hasn’t looked back since.

Despite his age and small stature, he possesses a superb ability to win the ball in the air and can still out-jump many taller defenders who he comes up against.

His tireless ability to chase down also makes him perfect for Hasenhutt’s high-pressure style of play that looks to force opponents into mistakes and take advantage.

Long will be 35 by the time his new deal runs out at St Mary’s and he may not be a first-choice option for the longer term, but right now he is invaluable to a manager who sees exactly what qualities he has.