‘I’m optimistic’ – Juric hopes to save Southampton with death metal approach

New Southampton manager Ivan Juric says his side are capable of “something exceptional” as they look to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.

Juric, formerly of Roma, Genoa and Torino, also likened his style of football to death metal music as he looks to turn the fortunes around at St Mary’s this term.

The Croatian will take charge of his first game on Christmas Day when Southampton host West Ham. Saints are currently rooted to the bottom of the table with six points, eight points from safety.

Meeting with the media 📸 pic.twitter.com/Q65aECoVJZ

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 23, 2024

Following the sacking of Russell Martin, Juric signed an 18-month contract at Southampton. However, their task, at least on paper, looks pretty steep.

In Premier League history, only four teams have survived from the same position on December 25: West Brom in 2004-05, Sunderland in 2013-14, Leicester in 2014-15 and Wolves in 2022-23.

“It’s going to be very hard work,” Juric said.

“I know that in history no one has stayed in the Premier League with this situation, but I think there are many good players, and we have to be much better at certain moments of the game.

“I am optimistic. I am very optimistic. I even saw his mindset the other day and it’s the first step to doing better. I think we can do something exceptional. The guys have to be very motivated to do something that no one has ever done before.”

🆕 Yours #SantsFC squad news for Ivan Jurić’s first game in charge:

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 23, 2024

Juric added that the Southampton job, as difficult as it was, was an attractive prospect and explained how a very specific genre of music helps inform his tactical approach.

He said: “It was a bit of a dream, the Southampton opportunity.

“I was thinking that life is short, I want to try new things and I want to travel to the other way of working, put myself in a difficult situation, and that’s it.

“They (the players) don’t know me but I know them. I said I believe in them, that they have quality, that they can do it. Stay positive, work hard and anything is possible.

“When I was young I really liked death metal music, and I think it’s my style of football.

“Work hard, press hard, play well, be intense, all of that. I think (the players) can do it.

“They are young, they are positive, they want to work hard. It’s not easy to change the style immediately, but we have to be smart.”