Ivan Juric tells players “to be grateful” for Southampton fans after relegation | Southampton

When the final whistle went, Ivan Juric arrived on the pitch and set the corner where the trip fans were collected. Southampton had alone he suffered the first relegation In the history of the Premier League, with seven matches still left, but there was no bitterness. Juric, who seemed almost moved by their reaction, assured that his players applauded them.

“For me, this is something completely new, a new experience,” said Juric. “I told the players that they must be really grateful who have fans like this.

“It is something incredible the way they love their team even if we have been relegated. They deserve much more. It is another type of culture (in Italy). They show love at this moment; it is a great thing in English culture, Southampton culture.”

Apparently Juric wants to stay and try to bring Southampton back to the Premier League next season. “If we take the long way to return here, I am ready,” he said, speaking of the need to develop young players, such as Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Mateus Fernandes, Tyler Dibling and Kamaldeen Sulemana, so that they can compete at the Premier League level, rather than being promoted, then sign a new team.

“We have many young players, talented players. They are good but they lack experience. There is a completely different physicality between us and other teams in the Premier League. The same thing happened to Leicester and Ipswich. The gap is enormous but from this moment the players can grow and improve and be ready for the Premier League; this is my idea.”

In this season, everything that remains is to try to overcome the low derby record of 11 points with a difference of -69. Derby, in the 2007-08 season, went down with six left games, as well as Huddersfield in 2018-19 and Sheffield United in 2020-21. “I liked the second half today and the Crystal Palace game was good,” said Juric. “Our goal must be to avoid being the worst in the history of the Premier League, I want seven games like the second half today.”

The responsibility, has insisted, is collective. In three complete seasons under the property of the Sport Republic, Southampton has been relegated, promoted and relegated again. “It is clear that the last two years in the Premier League we have not competed,” said Juric.

“We have been relegated too easily and this means enormous problems in many situations. Now it is important to understand all the errors and try to create something good. You cannot see these fans in all places.”

The Tottenham manager, Ange Postecoglou, was understandably concentrated on the first leg of the quarter -finals of the Europa League on Thursday against Eintracht Frankfurt. “In the first half we were really disciplined, well organized and every time we went on we seemed dangerous,” he said.

“The second half not so much. We became too passive without the ball and we left Southampton a rhythm. But overall we got the victory, all have passed unharmed and now we are ready for a great evening Thursday.”