RALPH Hasenhuttl insists he has not once considered his position as Saints boss being under threat in recent weeks as he outlined what he feels is required for the club to be successful.

Multiple media reports suggested the Austrian's time on the south coast could be nearing an end, as Saints recently endured a four-match losing streak.

They have since snapped that run, with four points from two games against West Ham United and Bournemouth.

Saints welcome Premier League leaders Arsenal to St Mary's tomorrow (2pm).

Asked how much easier the past two results have made his job, Hasenhuttl said: "Not really easier, because my job is never easy!

"I also never had the feeling that we don't believe in what we are doing here.

"I think, for me, the only response I really want to see is the response from the players.

"For me, when I see them doing what we ask them to do on the pitch, you know that this relationship is there. This is the only thing interesting me.

"The view from outside on the work from managers is a strange one sometimes. I think they don't really know what it is about and what are the key facts that you are really concentrating on.

"This is definitely not about thinking about being sacked or the last game or whatever. Never one time have I thought about my future.

"I have been here now nearly four years. There aren't a lot of managers longer serving than I do at the moment. I knew in the summer, with all the changes we made in the team and in the staff that the pressure will be higher this season.

"This can be a problem for a very young group, because we need to have to time to develop them. But the issue meanwhile is in this league you don't get a lot of time anymore and this is a fact."

Hasenhuttl added: "You have to have short-term results and for this, it helps to calm things a little bit down. But the key factor is when you want to have a successful time as a club, that you have a plan where you want to go and you have a philosophy you want to follow.

"When this philosophy is to go with the young kids, then you have to know what it is about.

"We have potential and we have to turn it into excellence. This takes a little bit (of time). But you need results consistently.

"You cannot say 'in two years they are a great team'. Because maybe in two years you are not in the Premier League any more."

Asked if it is mission impossible to expect an inexperienced, young side to instantly produce results in the Premier League, Hasenhuttl replied: "It's the mission we need to do, because it is without alternative.

"As we have seen in the summer, players who have just reached high levels are not so easy for us to get.

"This is the fact. You can complain about it, why we don't get them or why they don't come to us, or you can say we trust the guys we have and make them into big stars.

"I think we did it in the past very often and that is the reason why we always lost our best players after a season and they are going somewhere else."

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook