After Southampton’s historic relegation from the Premier League with seven matches remaining, manager Ivan Juric expressed a deep sense of respect and gratitude towards the club’s supporters. As the final whistle blew, Juric, visibly moved, walked onto the pitch to acknowledge the away fans who had gathered in the corner. Despite the club’s fate being sealed, there was no bitterness from the supporters. They continued to show their unwavering love for their team, and Juric made sure his players recognized the significance of their fans’ loyalty in such a difficult moment.
Juric emphasized to his players the importance of being thankful for having fans who continue to support them, even after such a crushing defeat. He acknowledged that this kind of unwavering loyalty is something he had not encountered before in his career, especially when compared to Italian football culture. The outpouring of love from the Southampton fans, even in relegation, was something Juric described as incredible and emblematic of English football culture.
Looking ahead, Juric expressed his determination to help the club return to the Premier League. He discussed the necessity of developing young players such as Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Mateus Fernandes, Tyler Dibling, and Kamaldeen Sulemana, in order to build a team capable of competing in the Premier League in the future. Instead of simply signing new players after promotion, Juric’s vision centers on nurturing the young talent already at Southampton, helping them grow and adapt to the physical demands of top-flight football.
Juric also acknowledged the gap in physicality between Southampton and other Premier League teams, recognizing that the team’s lack of experience had contributed to their downfall this season. Drawing comparisons to the relegations of teams like Leicester and Ipswich, Juric noted the vast challenge facing newly-promoted clubs trying to adjust to the Premier League’s heightened intensity. However, he remained optimistic that the young players at Southampton could develop the necessary skills and physical attributes to compete in the league.
With only seven games left in the season, Southampton’s immediate focus is to avoid breaking Derby County’s record for the lowest points total in Premier League history, which currently stands at 11 points. Juric pointed to the improvement shown in the team’s second-half performance against Tottenham and their strong outing against Crystal Palace as evidence that the squad is capable of finishing the season on a positive note. While the season has been largely disappointing, Juric’s goal is to ensure that the team performs well in their remaining matches and avoids becoming the worst team in Premier League history.
The past two seasons under Sport Republic’s ownership have been turbulent for Southampton, marked by relegation, promotion, and now relegation again. Juric acknowledged that the club has not been competitive in the Premier League and emphasized the importance of addressing the mistakes made during this period. He stressed the need for a thorough evaluation of the club’s shortcomings in order to build a more competitive team for the future. Despite the current situation, Juric remains committed to turning things around, knowing that such loyal fans, as seen in the aftermath of the relegation, are not found everywhere in football.
