Former Southampton striker Charlie Austin slams Ralph Hasenhuttl

Former Southampton striker Charlie Austin has accused Ralph Hasenhuttl of being too ‘quick to throw his team under the bus’ and criticised the 55-year-old for not ‘believing’ in his squad. 

Southampton sacked Hasenhuttl after their 4-1 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday. They felt it was the right time to part ways with the Austrian manager given the fact they are sitting in 18th place having won just once in their last nine games.

Austin – who was a member of the Saints squad when Hasenhuttl was appointed in December 2018 – has said the club’s downfall this season is due to the manager’s inability to ‘galvanise’ the team. 

Former Saints striker Charlie Austin has ripped into Ralph Hasenhuttl following his sacking

Austin was a member of the Saints squad when Hasenhuttl was appointed in December 2018

Speaking to talkSPORT, Austin said: ‘It was all about him. He was quick to throw the team under the bus when the team was doing poorly. But when they were doing great, it was all about him.

‘When you’re being asked if you can get out of a blip and you say, ‘No’ – I don’t think any manager can say that. You need to galvanise your team. Even if you don’t believe it, you need to say you can turn it around.’

Southampton sacked Hasenhuttl after their 4-1 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday afternoon 

Southampton have won just three of their 14 league games so far this Premier League season 

At the time of Hasenhuttl’s arrival in 2018, Southampton were lying in 18th place, before he guided them to safety that season.

He went onto secure 11th place in the following campaign before scoring two 15th place finishes in the subsequent season. 

However, they have been struggling for form this season. Since March this year, he picked up just 17 points from 26 games, with the south coast outfit conceding a whopping 54 goals during that period. 

Austin has accused Ralph Hasenhuttl of being too ‘quick to throw his team under the bus’

As a result, Hasenhuttl departed the club with a record of 60 wins from 173 games – a 35 per cent win ratio.  

Austin – who eventually left Southampton for West Brom –  ripped into the 55-year-old’s career at the club. He said : ‘Hasenhuttl’s been there for four years and his highest point tally was 52 points, the rest it’s been low forties.

‘Have they finished in the top-half since he’s been there? No. Can you say it’s a success? You would have to say no – but because he’s kept [them] in the Premier League, you could say yes. It depends on what the ambitions of the football club are.’