MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl insists that he is sure of “a future with the quality we need” from Lyanco after his impressive showing at the back during the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Tuesday.
The Brazilian centre-back made a shaky beginning to Saints life with his debut at Sheffield United in the third round of the EFL Cup last month, giving away the ball under no pressure for one of the goals as his side scraped through on penalties.
But he put all of that behind him for his second opportunity in Hasenhuttl’s team, with a strong, inventive and robust performance that saw a superb last-ditch tackle to keep the Blues attackers out in a late onslaught.
The 24-year-old was embroiled in a constant battle with Germany international and scorer of the Champions League-winning goal Kai Havertz, who was able to evade his marker to head home the opener.
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Speaking after the game, Hasenhuttl said: “As always when somebody new comes in we have to give him time to adapt to our game, time to adapt to the way we want to play.
“But he (Lyanco) learns very quick and I’m sure that he gives us a future with the quality we need.”
And Lyanco is just one of a number of players who seek to provide competition to the first team all over the pitch, after Saints targeted depth as the main priority in the summer window following last season’s failings.
“Yes we have a better side this season, a bigger side,” Hasenhuttl added, “and they deserve to get a chance to play.
“The way they did it today was tremendous and for me it is absolutely a good thing that I have more than one option.”
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