RALPH Hasenhuttl insisted that he is the most versatile a manager he has ever been and insisted: “Pep Guardiola said one time every other manager makes him better and this is absolutely true.”

The Austrian Saints boss deviated from his usual 4-2-2-2 again, which would have been unheard of before this campaign, to match Brentford’s 3-5-2 in the 4-1 win at St Mary’s.

It is not the first time Hasenhuttl has opted to match an opponent’s shape and go with an aggressive man-to-man style of play to try and force a result.

He did so on this occasion in the face of a depleted defence, with not one of his three recognised right-backs available.

In the previous campaign, Hasenhuttl had come under fire from supporters for his persistency with the shape he has always employed even in the face of repeated and severe defeats.

Daily Echo: Saints and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl are four unbeaten in the Premier League (Pic: Stuart Martin)Saints and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl are four unbeaten in the Premier League (Pic: Stuart Martin)

Asked by the Daily Echo if he is now a more versatile manager with more strings to his bow, he responded: “Yes. Because football is always changing, always developing.

“When you stand on the same spot all the time and be one-dimensional, you have no chance to do this job in the toughest league in the world against the toughest teams.”

He continued: “Pep (Guardiola) said one time every other manager makes him better and I can say this is absolutely true.

“Every fight you take, every match you play makes you better as a manager, you learn and you get better. This is what players have to do and what the manager has to do also.”