Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino wants response from players
Thursday 14 December 2017 16:21, UK
Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino thinks playing Chelsea this weekend might help his team rediscover their confidence and ease the pressure on himself.
Pellegrino apologised to Saints supporters after the 4-1 home defeat by Leicester on Wednesday, but he feels his players may have more of a chance to express themselves at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Southampton have not won in four games as they prepare to face Chelsea, and Pellegrino said: "For us it is a good opportunity this Saturday where we can play a top team where we might find more space. Even against the really good teams you can beat them, in 90 minutes anything can happen.
"We were very close to winning against Arsenal but against Leicester they were much better than us. But this is the Premier League - it is very tough.
"We are thinking about trying to improve and there a big group of teams involved around us and you have to fight for every point.
"The pressure is always with my job. My job is to try and achieve good results and good football. You must be 100 per cent concentrated on the game. We have to choose the players who want to help the club 100 per cent."
Pellegrino admits he may look to add some new faces in the January transfer window with the club only four points off the relegation places and the future of defender Virgil van Dijk still in the balance.
He said: "We are thinking about January and we have some options. The plan in my mind is one thing but the market makes it more difficult. Our club is always trying to be better, to improve our squad.
"I can say nothing about him [Van Dijk] as the market will dictate what will happen. I would like to keep most of our important players."
