Ralph Hasenhüttl believes his Southampton team have become “more dimensional” since the Premier League restart.
After working tirelessly without the ball in the 1-0 win over Manchester City at St Mary’s, Saints were impressive in possession at Everton, particularly in the first half of the 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.
This development in keeping the ball and creating more chances is something the boss is keen to see continue, ahead of Monday’s meeting with in-form Manchester United at Old Trafford.
“We want to be braver, but that can sometimes cause you problems, like against Arsenal when we make some mistakes,” Hasenhüttl said, referring to building from the back.
“We need this decision making, because then we learn. If you don’t demand this, you cannot improve in this way.
“I think we are now a more dimensional team. We don’t only focus on our work against the ball – we need to have solutions against every opponent.
“If they give us more long balls to defend, we can do this; if they build up more, we can press; if they keep the ball well and we cannot get it back, we have to keep possession so we’re not always running without the ball.
“In every regard you must get better. In this moment it looks like we can make this step, and the players are open-minded to go this way.
“This is important, otherwise you will always stay on the same level.”