RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted the manner of his side’s heavy defeat at Leicester City last season is motivation, after Saints were “punished for something that is not right”.
The Austrian boss was left furious following the final match of the last Premier League campaign, which saw the King Power Stadium hosts run out 4-1 winners.
Hasenhuttl’s side went a goal behind in the second-half, through James Maddison, in controversial fashion.
After Saints’ possession was incorrectly awarded to Leicester by Jon Moss following an injury that paused play, Jamie Vardy chased down Kasper Schmeichel’s long-ball and Maddison tapped in his rebound.
At the end of the match, Hasenhuttl revealed he asked Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers to allow his team to concede a goal and level the scores at 1-1. They did not oblige, and went on to cruise the contest.
“I must say I still cannot follow what happened with the decision from the referee, this was definitely decisive for this game because until this moment we had been good,” Hasenhuttl said, looking ahead to the rematch.
“In the end, we have a little bit of a different squad whereas they have not signed one player so far. But they are still a team that has played a lot of competitions, international footballers and a top 10 ranking in the last years all the time.
“The quality they have in every position, but also a ground we like to go to because we have had some good games there.”
He continued: “I think it is always motivation when you lose a game, and when you lose it in this way in a way that is not right and absolutely not fair then moreso.
“We get punished for something that is not right, but it is gone and we cannot win that game. We can win this game on the weekend, and this is the goal. We are going there with all the motivation we need.”
While Saints have enjoyed a summer that has seen six new signings and more on the way, Rodgers has been hamstrung with his finances and left unable to make a single addition.
After picking up a 2-2 draw on the opening day of the new season versus Brentford, the Foxes were beaten 4-2 by Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
Saints’ record is eerily similar, with a 2-2 draw versus Leeds United at St Mary’s following their 4-1 drubbing in North London.
“We will see at the end of the season, at the moment I don’t feel we are a club that is on Leicester’s level because they have had in the last years a very successful time,” Hasenhuttl added.
“After a tough start, the same situation like we have, it’s hard to speak about the gap between the teams.
“But we are all not 100 per cent sure on what level we are and it is up to us to go there, do our best and let it look different than last time.”
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