Hasenhüttl on "fantastic atmosphere"
Manager Ralph Hasenhüttl has described how the club’s work in the transfer window and subsequent run of results has led to a positive buzz around the training ground this season.
It's a similar feel as far as Saturday's hosts Villa are concerned, acquiring eight fresh faces in the summer, including Southampton's Danny Ings, followed by a further four in January.
Couple this with the introduction of new manager Steven Gerrard and there a signs of a brighter future ahead.
Whilst not having quite the same spending power, Southampton were equally as active in the market, shrewdly making purchases with an emphasis on exciting young talent on a tighter budget which has since helped quieten the concerns of losing their former number nine.
Add into the mix the recent good form and it certainly casts an early optimistic eye on the new chapter of the club under Sports Republic.
“They invest more than we do, they took our best striker for a lot of money,” said the boss, ahead of a possible reunion with his former number nine after injury ruled him out of the return fixture
“They are very ambitious but we also are, within the limits we have as a club. It’s not only about how much you spend, it’s about how you spend it.
“For us, we had a very good transfer window in the summer, I think we made some good moves.
“We have now a very balanced, very young, very hungry squad and it’s a fantastic atmosphere to work in at the moment.
“For me as a manager, but also for the players, everything flows really well.”
