Ralph Hasenhüttl admits focusing purely on football is not simple in light of the evolving situation created by the spread of COVID-19, but the Southampton manager has spoken of the importance of ensuring the squad still prepares for Saturday's match at Norwich City in the best way possible.
With the coronavirus having implications for a number of major sports leagues around the world, the Saints boss, like all of his counterparts, has been fielding questions around the potential effect on the Premier League during his media work in the build-up to this weekend's game.
Ralph Hasenhüttl
as long as we are together and the schedule shows a game at the weekend then we do everything to be as best prepared as possible.
southampton manager
However, Hasenhüttl explained how he and his players have been doing their best to prepare for the clash at Carrow Road in their normal way.
"It's not easy for everybody now to focus on the not-so-important thing in the world, which is football, but it's our job to do it, and as long as we are here and we are together and the schedule shows a game at the weekend then we do everything to be as best prepared as possible," he said.
"Therefore, the players are focused and concentrated on working hard, and enjoying being on the pitch together, and we decide from day to day what we do."
In a period of some uncertainty, one thing that is known is how important the game is to both sides – as Saints look to take another step closer to once again securing their top-flight status, while bottom-placed Norwich aim to increase their hopes of surviving.
"Absolutely," said Hasenhüttl, when asked about the importance of the points to each side. "I think Norwich must take the three points at home, and we can make with three points maybe everything clear for the next season, so it's for us good to go there and to know we must be in the best possible shape."
Saints also have a three-week break in their fixture schedule after this weekend, with the home game against Arsenal requiring a new date as a result of their opponents' FA Cup involvement, and an international week also coming up.
Hasenhüttl said plans for that period remain fluid.
"At first we want to focus on this game at the weekend and then we have some schedules for the time after, but things can change daily at the moment and that means we cannot really look forward so much and have to look from day to day," he said.
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