Pochettino digs deep for Saints´ challenge

29 January 2013 02:28

New Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino is clear on how he wants to take the club forward.

The Argentine was named as the successor to the sacked Nigel Adkins and he is determined to succeed.

“We have our own work ethic. And we have our own philosophy as to where we want to take this club,” he said.

“We have goals and ambition and we want to work with the team to achieve those goals. But that doesn’t mean we want to go against or to do anything contrary to what was being done before.

“It’s not about that. It’s more about our philosophy, and how we want to take the team forward and how we want to achieve these goals.”

Despite their opposition to Adkins’ dismissal, supporters will have been encouraged by the start to life under Pochettino.

But following their 0-0 draw at home to Everton, things will only get tougher for the 40-year-old.

The Saints travel to Manchester United on Wednesday, before encounters with relegation rivals Wigan and Premier League champions Manchester City.

“Every single match that we play is important to us. No doubt they are going to be very tough and complex games against Manchester City and Manchester United,” he said.

“The glamour factor does not dictate how we play. The main thing is that we go out with a winning mentality. We want to win every single game.

“We definitely respect all of our rivals, and our aim always has to be to get the three points.”

Pochettino has already shown faith in his new side by saying that adding to the squad isn’t a priority.

But there has been one arrival at St Mary’s after Vegard Forren arrived from Ole Gunnar Solakjaer’s Molde.

The Norwegian had already agreed to join the Saints before Adkins was sacked.

“I never spoke to Nigel (Adkins). I knew there was a change but also that the new manager wanted me here. So for me it wasn’t any problem. I was just very happy to be here and have the opportunity to play for Southampton.”

Southampton are four points above the Premier League drop zone and an unlikely victory over Alex Ferguson’s men could lift them to 13th.