Daily Echo

Relegation confirmed but were you surprised by fan reaction?

IJ: For me it is something completely new. A new experience. I said to the players, they have to be really thankful they have fans like this.

It was something incredible the way they love their team, their squad, even the players that we are relegated with, incredible for me, incredible.

They really deserve much more. Every person that works here has to do it better and create something much more stronger than this year.

You would not get that reaction in Italy, would you?

IJ: No, it would be completely different. It is the other type of culture. This one I can say is something even for my mentality is something incredible.

They show love in this moment, it is great English culture, great Southampton culture, it is incredible.

Is the structure in place to bounce back next season?

IJ: It is clear if your last two years in the Premier League, you don’t compete and are relegated too much easy then it means there are huge problems in lots of situations.

I think now is a really important moment to understand all the mistakes what the club did in the last three or four years and start to create something really good because these fans deserve it. I think now is the moment to think to create something good.

Does this change the aim of trying to beat 11 points this season?

IJ: It is our goal. I like very much today second half. I think we play really good and the Crystal Palace game was really good.

The goal has to be to avoid being the worst team in Premier League history. We have lots of young players, even today, and they have to learn lots of things.

It is a huge experience for them but I want seven games like the second half of today and against Crystal Palace to try to do better.

Do you want to be here for the remaining seven games?

IJ: I am manager of Southampton and it is easy to say, ‘Now I want to go,’ but we have to keep working. We owe that to our fans and this is our goal.

What have been your main problems this season?

IJ: I think I have to be honest we have lots of young players, talented players, from Harwood-Bellis, from Fernandes, Dibling, Archer, Sulemana.

Lots but if you put on paper how many games they did in the Premier League, you understand they never played. They are good, but lack experience.

I think the recruitment is everything in football and you have to find the right players for this league so they can be intense, physically good players.

What I notice the most in these three or four months I am here is a completely different physicality between us and the other teams in the Premier League.

I think the same thing happen to Leicester and Ipswich Town. The difference between physicality of Championship and Premier League.

The gap is huge between Championship and Premier League, but you have to find from now, from this moment players that can grow up and improve.

Not just thinking to win the Championship but to create players that can be ready in the Premier League. This is my idea, to buy to create now.

Will you stay here for next season in the Championship?

IJ: I said from the beginning I am delighted with English football. It is incredible, it is a wonderful, intensive game, the crowd is great.

It is really good to be a coach in the Premier League and if I took the long way to come back here, I am ready.

Then I have to see with the club, with the ideas, with everything and what they think, what I think and whether we can do it or not.

Have you spoken to the owners about the future and next season?

IJ: No, we had some chats, but nothing special. Everybody is conscious that everybody did many mistakes.

This is the idea of the owner, of everybody. And now I think they want to prepare the next season good and the future better than they prepared now.

Did you think there was any chance of survival when you arrived?

IJ: I think, yes, I was optimistic. Maybe it's my character, maybe I was wrong. No, I was wrong. I think there were some games in the beginning.

Like West Ham or some games that we were really good, and it doesn't win the game and the gap is always more. When we had some injuries, we were not good anymore.

It was a big gap between one moment and then you have three or four injuries or a squad of players and the gap became much higher.

Do you think the biggest problem was recruitment from the start?

IJ: If you have a team like Fernandes, Dibling, Sulemana, and it's the first experience for them in the Premier League, Harwood-Bellis and others, you already create something.

You have lots of young players that can be better and now you have to decide. You want to keep this player, you want to sell players, create other team, that I don't know.

But I think the way is not have two teams, one Championship teams and then a Premier League teams but to have young players that you start to work, improve them and create good players for Premier League.

I think the huge difference between us, between Ipswich and Leicester City is physicality. Because technically maybe some moments you can do it.

Physically when it's a moment of transition, when it's a moment like a basketball game, you cannot do it because they are physically stronger, faster and this is the huge difference.

The mostly one-sided encounter in the capital ensured a 22-point gap between Saints and 17th-place Wolves remained with just seven games to play.

Wales international Brennan Johnson opened the scoring in the 13th minute and doubled his side's lead before the break to decide the tie as a contest.

Johnson's goals sandwiched a four-minute wait to rule out Lucas Bergvall's effort for offside, after Ange Postecoglou's fume at VAR dominated the match build-up.

Mateus Fernandes pulled one back right at the end of the regulation 90 minutes but substitute Mathys Tel converted a penalty kick to conclude the game.

Despite the result, a sold-out away end enjoyed the sunshine and humour on offer, singing over the silent Spurs fans right up until the bitter last.

Ivan Juric made three changes to the team that impressed midweek in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, although two were enforced by injury and suspension.

Joe Aribo and Cameron Archer replaced the banned Flynn Downes and Paul Onuachu - fit enough for the bench - while Juric also made a system change.

Club captain Jack Stephens made way for Tyler Dibling, as the Croatian matched the shape of 16th-place Spurs and under-pressure Postecoglou.

Cristian Romero was determined to relieve some of that pressure on his boss and won three headers in the Saints box in the first half alone.

His first was powerful but straight at Aaron Ramsdale, who saved and cleared well, before Saints created their only chance in a dreadful first half.

Dibling, a Spurs transfer target, dinked a lovely ball into the back-post, but the angle was too tight for Kamaldeen Sulemana to beat the goalkeeper.

The hosts opened the scoring after 13 minutes, when Johnson finished a slick move after his teammates had been granted freedom of the pitch to play.

Guglielmo Vicario lofted his goal kick into an unmarked man in the middle and Spurs forced their way down the left for Djed Spence to pull across the box.

Ramsdale then denied Romero for a second time, but did not know much about it as the Argentine's powerful effort smashed him straight in the face.

He could do nothing to stop Romero heading across the box for Bergvall to turn in but VAR stepped in after a lengthy delay to rule the goal out.

Three minutes before the interval, the Saints defence stooped to new lows on the day and allowed Johnson the chance to easily prod in from close range.

James Maddison was left free to nod a weak headed clearance back over the defensive line for the Welshman, who was more aware than his opponents.

Saints had more of the ball after the break but not much happened until Ramsdale denied Dominic Solanke low down to his left after 65 minutes.

Returning Ross Stewart was introduced as Juric's fifth and final substitution, making his first appearance since October, in the 84th minute.

After a brief welcome back to the Scotsman, the away end sang, "Championship again, ole, ole," to see out the competitive Premier League season.

But it was not done - Kamaldeen crossed for Fernandes, who found the time to control, finish and halve the deficit just as four minutes of added time were signalled.

Any desperate hope was dashed when Welington lunged in on Johnson inside the box, and Tel powered the spot kick past Ramsdale to make it 3-1.

Spurs: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Spence; Bentancur (Sarr, 57), Bergvall (Bissouma, 79), Maddison (Gray, 79); Johnson, Son (Odobert, 57), Solanke (Tel, 86).

Unused subs: Kinsky, Richarlison, Udogie, van de Ven.

Booked: Porro.

Saints: Ramsdale; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning (Welington, 63); Ugochukwu (Stewart, 83), Aribo (Smallbone, 63), Fernandes; Dibling (Sugawara, 73), Kamaldeen, Archer (Onuachu, 73)

Unused subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Bree, Bella-Kotchap.

Booked: Ugochukwu.

Referee: Michael Salisbury.

Southampton are awaiting relegation and will become the first team relegated from England's top four divisions if they fail to register a point today,

Ivan Juric has to contend with suspension and injury today as Flynn Downes is serving a two-match ban, and Paul Onuachu has an ankle issue.

Here's how we predicted Saints will line up as they attempt to delay relegation by another week...

Goalkeeper

Aaron Ramsdale will have been disappointed when watching Crystal Palace’s equaliser back, but he should keep his starting spot.

The former Arsenal goalkeeper can expect to receive stick from the opposition supporters - not for the first time this season.

Defenders

We expect Saints to stick with the same back, meaning Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek will play at the heart of defence.

Kyle Walker-Peters was good going forward against Palace, while Ryan Manning has been deemed fit despite suffering a wrist problem.

Midfielders

Flynn Downes was excellent on Wednesday but is now serving a two-game ban, leaving Juric with the key decision of who to play alongside Lesley Ugochukwu.

There is hope that Will Smallbone will be fit for the trip, but Joe Aribo is more likely to get the nod from the start.

Forwards

Paul Onuachu has scored in back-to-back games but is not expected to lead the line at Spurs due to fitness issues.

That will leave Cameron Archer to play alongside Kamaldeen Sulemana and Mateus Fernandes.

Full predicted team:

(5-2-3) Ramsdale; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens, Manning; Aribo, Ugochukwu; Fernandes, Kamaldeen, Archer.

How have the players reacted to the draw with Palace? Is it positive, or does it still feel like a kick in the teeth?

IJ: Both. It's very positive because of performance, because everybody was really happy with what we did on the pitch.

We are a little bit disappointed because we conceded a goal in the last minute and at the moment that we didn't have problems, the game was under control.

Having watched it back, what were the areas that particularly pleased you in the game?

IJ: Everything. We were a team. At the right moment, we pressed high, like we wanted, and in other moments, we were lower and defended lower.

When we had the ball, I saw lots of play and movement, which I like, and we created chances and dangerous situations this way.

You said that the players have taken a step forward, but you've taken a step back. Can you explain that?

IJ: That means that I'm used to playing much more aggressive, and I did this all my life. We tried to do it, and I think we did very well in the beginning, against Fulham, West Ham, even Crystal Palace.

There were some games that were good, and then we lost some players in the defence, and we did really bad performances, like Brighton.

Without Harwood-Bellis, without Bednarek, it was much more difficult. And now, I think we find a way to. In some moments of the game, we are lower, we are waiting a little bit more.

We were running more, but with less aggressiveness, and there is a moment which I prefer, when we go to press high, we steal the ball, play forward.

I think the goal was like this, high pressure, steal the ball, play forward, then play and move, and we scored the goal. And this is a little bit of a difference, there is a moment that we wait a little bit more.

How has that felt, adjusting your principles like that, not going fully Ivan Juric football?

IJ: It's a new experience. I prefer to watch Bournemouth and Tottenham games. They are intense, aggressive, and there are risks in some moments. I think there is much better.

But it's not bad, it's a new experience, I feel that the players prefer it, and I'm satisfied with that.

You mentioned enjoying watching Tottenham. How good are they when things click for them?

IJ: Tottenham is a great example of aggressive football because last year they were great, and this year with the injuries, if you are not fit, if you are not 100%, you have problems.

And this year they had some problems that they didn't have last year.

They have got their players back now, but things still aren't clicking for them. How big an opportunity is this this weekend?

IJ: No, but now, now I have a feeling they are like last year; they are much more compact, and I think some players are crucial for them, like Romero, and they are really good again.

They weren't really good against Chelsea last night, were they?

IJ: Chelsea is at another level. Sometimes I watch Chelsea, I don't know, and then you know that the players of Chelsea are completely at the level that we are.

Will the gameplan against Crystal Palace be the same as the game plan against Tottenham?

IJ: No, it will be different because they play completely different. They are 4-3-3, and it's different. I want to work on this principle now, the moment of the high pressure.

The moment when we are low, we defend lower. And I think this will be our way until the end of the season.

You're missing Flynn with suspension...

IJ: I'm not disappointed; I'm unhappy because it was a tough year for Flynn with everything that happened.

I think last month he started to work really, really good, really hard, and he did a really good game, an extremely good game.

I'm really sorry that he cannot play in the next two games because it was the right moment for him.

What about injuries, Ryan Manning, Lesley Ugochukwu, are they ok?

IJ: Manning is OK, Lesley is OK, Paul had a little bit of a problem with his ankle. I think maybe Will Smallbourne will come back tomorrow. He will do training with us and we'll see.

Does Paul Onuachu's ankle issue rule him out for the weekend?

IJ: He didn't train today; we will see tomorrow.

That must be a huge blow because he's now scoring goals. How disappointed are you if he's now a doubt?

IJ: I think there are some games in which he's good for us, and in the other games, it's better to have another type of player; it depends on the opponent's defence.

Crystal Palace played with a back three, and for us he was great because you can play one-on-one, he keeps the ball, and when we play against Tottenham, it's different.

They are a high line, and you have to attack space, and maybe it's better to attack the space with other players.

And you mentioned how impressed you've been with Cameron Archer after the game?

IJ: I think he's a really emotional guy, a really quiet guy, but really emotional, and the last few weeks, last month, he's completely different. He's very good on the training, and if he plays, I think he will be really good.

Does changing your style of play make you a better manager?

IJ: I really think that the start was really positive. Fulham, West Ham, and Crystal Palace, and I have a feeling that we are competing on my way, with high pressure, continuously.

I think that at the moment, when we lose some players, I have to change it a little bit. You have a feeling that it's good, but it's different when you put Aribo, you put Jack Stevens.

I'm referring to that. And now we change a little bit the way of playing against Liverpool, then Wolverhampton, then this one.

Trying to press high, yeah, but in the right moment. And I have a feeling that the players prefer. And I have a really good feeling against Crystal Palace.

Watching the game, it was like really good moments. We scored a goal like this with high pressure, other moments with high pressure.

And the moments when we are waiting a little bit more, defending a little bit lower, then you have to be good in the other moments.

Tyler Dibling, it seems to me, has not been the same player since his injury at Manchester United. What do you think?

IJ: I think that he's a really young guy. They start to know him, what he's doing, how he's dribbling. He's not like a new player whom nobody knows.

And it became a little bit more difficult for him. But I have to say that he's working really hard and he's getting better. He has to be calm and work, nothing else.

On Sunday, of course, you might get relegated if you lose. Do you think about that? Do the players talk about that?

IJ: No, I don't think about that anymore. What I want now, like I said, is for our goal not to be the worst team. And then after that, if we can arrive in front of Leicester, it will be great.

Have you had a specific meeting with the players? Have they now made a group decision to make the best of this?

IJ: I think there is always a good group now, not a huge problem. In the past, I had worse groups. They're always a good group.

But then normally they always try to train hard and do their best and everything. But then there is a game, and there is no problem of behavior for almost all players.

I'm really happy with them and how they work. But you play the game, you lose the game, and that's it in the final of football. There will never be a problem of attitude of the players.

They are a huge group of professional players. They want to work hard. Like the last game, it was like an example of professionalism, of doing everything they can, the best.

After the game, they were really sad because they felt they had given a good performance, but they didn't win. I don't have a problem with that.

If the team are relegated, do you still think and hope you will stay for the rest of the season after relegation to finish the season?

IJ: At this moment, I don't know. I have to speak with the club. I think that for me, and it was from the beginning like this, you know who you are buying.

How this guy is playing, and you have to do everything to try that this guy do what he has, where is his best. And then you said, I think good, are you feeling better now as a coach?

Yes, because I had to do other things, and I can think about other things to perform. But I think that every coach has his vision.

I think the club has to do everything they can to agree with the coach and go on the same way.

You've had a few weeks now with Johannes Spors. How is that relationship?

IJ: We talk about a lot, I have to say. I think he did a good job in Genoa, like the players he brought to Genoa.

It was all aggressive players, all players that he can play, like high intensity. And I think it's not the moment now to speak about that.