Southampton stay up after thrilling 3-3 draw with Bournemouth
Saturday 27 April 2019 18:38, UK
Ralph Hasenhuttl believes keeping Southampton in the Premier League is a bigger achievement than taking RB Leipzig to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga.
Hasenhuttl secured a runners-up spot with Leipzig behind Bayern Munich in the 2016/17 season.
However, after Southampton ensured their top-flight status with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Bournemouth, Hasenhuttl, who was appointed in December with the club in 18th in the table, says this rates higher.
"The job to begin here was much more difficult because we had to build up," he told Sky Sports.
"When I came to Leipzig there was a good team coming up to the top division and the development was further along than here.
"This was a lot of work to do but we used every second to develop this team and the guys did a fantastic job. Every player has made a huge step in the development of his performance."
Hasenhuttl now hopes Southampton can push on next season and says he plans to make additions in the summer.
"If you look at our last transfer window we didn't sign anyone. In the summer we will do, a bit of rebuilding is necessary and bringing some fresh players in.
"Players are very adapted to what we want to play, then it's important to work as hard as this year and try to take points consistently and not be in the relegation zone but stay high."
Reflecting on the draw with Bournemouth, which saw Southampton lead 1-0 and 3-2, Hasenhuttl added: "It was a crazy match. Everything you want to see in the stadium apart from the equaliser at the end.
"To come back again after being down was fantastic. Second half we had a very intense tactical game, changing the shape always, and our opponent was very flexible.
"We scored more goals in the second half and were more aggressive with earlier pressing and it was a fantastic performance from our team."
