Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has explained that his side need to defend better in order to beat Newcastle this weekend, which could mean a return for Jannik Vestergaard.
Hasenhuttl says that Southampton need to defend balls into their own box better and be quicker to second balls in order to keep a clean sheet against Steve Bruce’s side.
Speaking to Southampton’s website, Hasenhuttl said:
Like always, a clean sheet helps massively, so we must defend our box better than we did last time, not losing the second balls so easily. With the ball we did a few good things against West Ham, but only a few. We must play quicker more often and direct with less touches, and finally in the box with the final intent to score.
If Hasenhuttl wants his side to defend balls into the box better than he could recall centre-back Vestergaard to the team.
The Danish star, whilst he has flaws with his passing and concentration, is excellent at clearing crosses into the box. He averages more clearances and aerial battles won than both Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek per 90 minutes.
This suggests that Vestergaard is Southampton’s best centre-back at dealing with crosses into the box and clearing danger.
Bednarek and Stephens are more well-rounded centre-backs, though, and are able to couple decent defending alongside better ability on the ball, which allows them to pass out from the back.
Due to this, Vestergaard could come in as a third centre-back in a change of formation for the Saints.
Whilst the 4-2-2-2 has worked for Southampton at times this season, they could benefit from a change this gamem based on Hasenhuttl’s comments.
If Southampton give themselves a solid base to work with, they could then allow their attackers to have freedom to express themselves and create chances at the top end of the pitch.
