PREMIER LEAGUE STRUGGLERS Southampton have sacked manager Mauricio Pellegrino after nine months at the helm at St. Mary’s.
The club also conirmed that Pellegrino’s backroom staff would be following the Argentinian through the exit door.
The Saints currently languish in 17th position in the Premier League after suffering a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday. They’ve won just one of their last 17 games.
A club statement issued tonight read:
Southampton Football Club can today confirm that it has parted company with First Team Manager Mauricio Pellegrino. Assistant Manager Carlos Compagnucci and Assistant First Team Coach Xavier Tamarit have also parted company with the club. We would like to place on record our thanks to Mauricio, Carlos and Xavier for their efforts during their time with Southampton, and wish them well for the future. The club will look to appoint a new management team as soon as possible, with the search for a replacement already underway.
Now in their sixth successive season in the Premier League, Southampton haven’t finished lower than 14th in any of the previous five, but face a battle for survival with just eight league games remaining.
Following Saturday’s defeat at St. James’ Park, Pellegrino said he observed some of his players ‘giving up’ during the 3-0 defeat which left them only a point above the drop zone.
“When you concede in the first minute and little by little you feel that the game will be tough, every single negative impact is massive for you. I observed some players who gave up and we cannot show this, to be honest,” he told reporters at his post-match press conference.
“When you are losing 2-0, you have to try, and I think we tried to be in the game, to score one, but we were never a threat for Newcastle. The spirit of the team and the attitude is everything. We have been talking about this a lot of time from the beginning.
“You can have good players, you can have a budget, but without personality and spirit, it’s really difficult to compete at this level. You can lose, you can play badly, but you have to show another face on the pitch. For this reason, I would like to say sorry to our fans because we couldn’t represent our club properly. This is the worst thing that we did today.”
Newcastle’s victory moved Rafa Benitez’s side four clear of Southampton, who have won just five of their 30 Premier League games this term.
3 quality finishes. In all seriousness though, other than the own goal Bailly was quality. First game in 4 months and was solid as a rock.
@Dan Bigioi: Bailly and Young are the reason United won today, also McTominay was again very composed in midfield. Excellent result.
@Stephen Lyons: salah couldn’t do a stitch against young today. Pity. But Liverpool were pretty awful. School boy errors leading to the 2 goals.
@Yorkie1892: It’s amazing looking back at Valencia and Young’s stints at United in how they have developed into full-backs as opposed to wingers, and Young showed today just how competent he is at left-back despite his critics, especially when he can keep an apparent future Ballon D’or winner at bay.
@Stephen Lyons: yeah true. Valencia prob one better right backs in the world. Young making himself number one choice lb for England. Makes it all worse I had salah captain in fpl
And LiverPoo meant to be having a great season. Salah in Young’s pocket
@Hightower: what age are you seriously?
@Yorkie1892: 47
@John Dad: shut up you ya baldy b***ox
@Hightower: Troll alert
@Shane Murtagh: Ah I found that funny myself now
Rashford do do do do do do.
Salah just seen climbing out of Ashley Young’s pocket!
Excellent result. Bailly being back is huge for United. Despite his own goal. Not as defensive as I thought Jose would be
@Johnno Byrne: I think he knew if he parked the bus Liverpool would eventually score, the combination of a tight defense with effective counter-attacking saw the game through for them today.
@Johnno Byrne: eh? They sat back the whole game and played long to Lukaku for the goals. How defensive did you think they would be?
@Stephen Lyons: what game were you watching? In the 2nd half in particular the bus was parked. Not that there is anything wrong with that though at 2 up. They defended deep and they defended well.
@Gareth Kennan: I said they had a tight defense, I’m just saying he didn’t defend as moronically as usual, neglecting to produce any decent attacking play. When they countered they were quick, effective and clinical in the early period of the game when markers need to be laid down. United scored two early goals and who wouldn’t have tried to defend that lead in such a big game. I’m just happy that it wasn’t the 90-minute borefest that usually ensues, and I’m delighted Pogba wasn’t anywhere near the pitch.
Easy Easy Easy
Where’s Alan b, Marcus, England’s envy? No where to be seen, talking Shite all year and missing today, as I said before loserpool have done F all since 1990
@Paul Friday Shannon: He’s just walking out of Old Trafford. Coverage should be coming back now so he can give his post match analysis…
@Paul Friday Shannon: loserpool? Grow up!
@Paul Friday Shannon: where’s Marcus and Martin Ryan do do do doo do dooo
@Paul Friday Shannon: that European cup in 2005 was pretty special. Is that your dad in the picture with you Paul?
@Jason Brosnahan: next stop Bittersville … on root to Haven’ta hope crossroads
@Jason Brosnahan: your scraping the bottom of the barrel now by getting personal.
@Paul Friday Shannon: Loserpool is something I’d expect from a 5 year old, not a grown man, hence why I asked.
Great performance. Bailly is a rock. Mourinho got it right too. Tactical masterclass. Great subs too.
Liverpool shocking. Only because Mourinho got his tactics 10 from 10. Well done United. Prks !
@England’s Envy: didn’t think I’d see you on here today but fair play. Sure it’s only banter and nobody got hurt.
@England’s Envy: Ah Marcus, you were doing so well at being magnanimous until your last word. Don’t think England are envious of Liverpool this evening :-)
@Sloop John G: Ah stop Power Fix I’m all about the laugh. Try it sometime.
@England’s Envy: I think I’m the one who’s laughing today Marcus. Still, very brave of you to show up. No toxic comments about Mourinho then?
@England’s Envy: my ears were burning did you miss me ???? But but but Liverpool’s attack is the envy of Europe…
@powerfix: it is though
Playing against 12, Mo should have had a pen but also realistically can’t remember DdG making too many saves. It’s all about top 4 and keeping her lit
@Scott Crossfield: wouldn’t blame the ref. Yeah prob should have had one or two penalties, only shots on goal were straight at de gea. Was a shockingly poor performance from Liverpool
@Yorkie1892: Wasn’t that bad. Utd played well.
Not a fan of either team but Liverpool just pulled a Liverpool. Mourinho identified their weaknesses and exploited them well, Liverpool as usual going down to individual mistakes. Could have seen the game ending as a draw but United brilliant at seeing those games out. Other than that, Craig Pawson had a mare and what’s with both sets of fans acting like complete children in the comment section
@Craig O’Dwyer: obviously new here comments on football articles involving Liverpool or United are populated with what appears to be a bunch of pre pubescent fools.
@TonySuperSaints: and yet here you are Tony. Super stuff altogether.
Klopp has no plan B
Somehow won that but United are horrendous to watch under Maureen.
It must ire looking across the city at the standard of football being played
@Mikarlachenko: Would you like more salt with that lemon??
@Mikarlachenko: the standard of football that loses to Wigan ???? Ahh here have some salt with your chips
What a start to the day. Now come on Ireland.
Jose is the master.
Not a fan of either but Liverpool really pulled a Liverpool there. Mourinho identified the weaknesses and completely exploited them, and used cynical tactics cleverly. Liverpool probably the better team in a purely footballing sense but that doesn’t win games. Pawson had a mare. Other than that, what’s the story with both sets of fans acting like total handicaps in this comment section
@Craig O’Dwyer: that’s normal on here some load of babies really
Oh dear, the phone hopping, the slagging is unrelenting, time to head down for a few and meet it head on, that said Utd got a lot right Liverpool didn’t, so well done to Jose for that..
@Dae Monicus: well said. No sour grapes. Good for you. Enjoy the few gargles.
United deserved their win. They defended well. Liverpool didn’t do near enough with all the ball they had. Rashford took his first goal very well. How simple were the goals though Lukaku dominated Lovren in the air. How could Liverpool not be aware that uniteds main weapon would be winning flick ons off him.
@Gareth Kennan: well said, who knows they might meet again in the champions league quarter finals when it really matters if united get through, no trophies handed out for second place.
Masterclass by Mourinho. Got ahead and defended brilliantly. His subs were spot on also. Ashley young was superb. As was bailly. And 2 sweet sweet goals by rashers!
Rashford is quality, hasnt been getting a solid run in the team and took his goals so well. Sanchez put in a great shift aswell.
Liverpool need to learn how to grind out draws imho. They are great going forward.
@hallelujah: yeah, if they get ahead they are near unstoppable. Different story when chasing it. If they had a plan B, they would be lethal.
Liverpool were Big Sammed by Mourinho. It was exactly the same as all those awful mid-2000′s nights at the Reebok, conceding to two long balls and knock downs; except this version of Bolton is better, as it perhaps should be for the guts of a billion on wages and transfers
…quality finishes by Rashford mind you.
Liverpool just didn’t have the nous or composure to make utter dominance count, and it became one of those days where, ironically perhaps, LFC might have benefited from a Lukaku/Kevin Davies of their own.
Jose did it again, in fairness.
@James Doyle: long balls out from DeGea after two sh!te corners from pool
It was like playing Bolton at the Reebok under Big Sam, except this Bolton cost the guts of a billion quid in wages and transfers. Two long balls, knock ons, and two quality finishes, in fairness. Liverpool just hadn’t the composure to turn utter dominance into clear chances, and probably needed a plan b in the guise of a big Lukaku type we could just throw on and knock long balls up to. We were Mourinhoed, in fairness.
@James Doyle: so good, you said it twice :-)
Bad performance. If VVD was on Lukaku first goal wouldn’t have happened. Really disappointed but Mane played class. Rashford and Young standout performers. Still parked the bus ffs
@Ollie Watson: if, if, if. If my aunt had balls she’d be my uncle. IF Mata’s bicycle kick was on target in the first half United would have scored 3. You might call it “parking the bus” but teams who take the lead often go defensive at the back and try to play on the counter attack. Looked what Juventus did to Spurs on Wednesday night, they were lauded for it.
@Sloop John G: I’m not complaining with you. Im complaining with who ever idiot decided for Lovren to man mark Lukaku instead of VVD