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Ralph Hasenhuttl tells Southampton to focus only on themselves

Ralph Hasenhuttl tells Southampton to focus only on themselves
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Saints resume the fight for Premier League survival against Leicester.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has warned his players to focus on their own job of getting out of the Premier League relegation zone rather than worry about the teams around them.

The Saints resume the fight for survival on Saturday with a trip to Leicester, who are managed by former boss Claude Puel.

With Fulham at fellow strugglers Burnley and 17th-placed Cardiff hosting bottom club Huddersfield, it represents an opportunity for Hasenhuttl's side to claw back some points.

The Austrian, though, wants everyone concentrating on the job in hand rather than working out who will be where come the full-time whistle.

"It is not about hoping something or wishing, it is about doing yourselves the job you have to do, that is the most important thing," Hasenhuttl said at a press conference.

"It is guaranteed there are clubs taking points (from each other) around us, so if we can overtake (them) on points, then it would be great for us.

"They are a strong team and a big challenge for us, but we are travelling there to get three points because we need to look to come out of this relegation zone therefore we have to get constantly some wins or draws.

"If it's a draw we take it, if it's a win it's better, for sure.

"We know about this tough challenge we are facing there. Leicester is a very good team with a lot of individual quality inside.

"Jamie Vardy and a few other players, if you give them space and time they can kill you and that's what we don't want."

Southampton face an FA Cup third-round replay after Derby fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 last weekend.

For the return to league action, Hasenhuttl is expected to rely on much of the team which secured a goalless draw at Chelsea on January 2.

"For us it's important to go with self confidence we just built up," he said.

"We know we can play away a tactical game like we did against Chelsea, but the transition to go forwards with more pace will be necessary against this team.

"We need to show ourselves and also our fans what we are able to do now."

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