Find out what Southampton manager Mark Hughes had to say in his press conference ahead of Saints' Premier League trip to Wolves...
Progress
“We’re a work in progress but for the most part I’m pleased with our general play.
“A lot of the things we’re attempting is work from the training ground, so I can see that being embedded into the guys. They’re starting to take that on board.
Small margins
“We’ve had a number of things go against us which have changed the outcome of games.
“The one game we’ve had when we had a slice of luck was probably Crystal Palace away, when we had to hang on, but that’s the one we won.
“That’s how it is in sport. The smallest details can be the difference between winning and losing.”
Away form better than home form
“Since I’ve come here, up to the Everton game next week we’ll have had 19 games and only six at home.
“Two of those home games were against Chelsea and Man City, so it’s been a tough period.
“Our away form has been ok and we get fantastic support away from home that really pushes us on.
“Our away form is a reflection of how we’re trying to play. Sometimes when the onus isn’t so much on being on the front foot, as the away team it can be easier to play the games you’re faced with.”
Wolves
“They’ve been very impressive. I’ve watched a number of their games. They’re very positive in what they do and very proficient.
“They’ve come off the back of a really outstanding season so they’re in a good frame of mind confidence-wise.
“They’ve had continuity in terms of selection – I think they’ve picked the same team in every Premier League game. Not many teams, ourselves included, have had that luxury.
“They’ve reaped the benefits of that and they’re well-versed in what they’re trying to do – they’ve been playing the same way with the same shape and the same way of affecting the opposition for the past 12 or 18 months.”
Danny Ings
“He was a loss for us last week. Danny has brought a little bit of a cutting edge at the top end of the pitch.
“His ball retention and ability to bring people into the game was something we probably lacked last weekend.
“He’s benefited from two weeks of real solid work. Prior to that, he’s had a fragmented time in terms of training, with the bad blister he’s had that’s finally cleared up now. He’s raring to go for this weekend.
“He was still scoring goals without being quite at the fitness level we know he’s capable of, so you’d like to think as he gets fitter and stronger, and develops more understanding of the team, the more impact he’ll have for us.”
Team news
“We’ve only got a doubt on Shane Long at the moment. He’s got an issue with his toe, so he hasn’t trained this week.
“The only negative is you have to disappoint a lot of players who have done absolutely nothing wrong. That’s part of my job to manage that situation.
“The one thing that really impresses me about this group is that, although there will be a number of guys who will be disappointed and frustrated not to have opportunities yet, they’re still training at a really high level to be ready if called upon. That’s all you can ask.”
Managing individuals
“Every dressing room in this day and age – especially at Premier League level – is different. It’s made up of different players from different countries with different cultures. It’s not one size fits all, so you’ve got to know your group and what ticks a player’s box.
“Sometimes what you say to one guy can be interpreted completely different by another guy, so it’s about knowing what switches to flick to get the best out of players.
“Every player needs different things from the manager. I didn’t need in-depth conversations because I felt I self-managed quite well. Other players need more and a different type of management – everybody is different.”
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