Southampton manager Mark Hughes has said he wants to repay the supporters for their efforts against Chelsea at Wembley when we face Bournemouth in our next Premier League clash.
? "The fans were magnificent! We've got a huge game next week and we're going to need everybody." #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/0lDEG8cjdx
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 23, 2018
Having lost 2-0 at the National Stadium in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend, Hughes explained that the gameplan for the tie was to contain Chelsea and try and frustrate them and he felt we were doing that well up to the halftime break.
His plan for the second half was then to open up a touch more and try and get at them, but of course with them taking the lead 60 seconds into the second 45 minutes we’d then given ourselves a mountain to climb and luck wasn’t with us – a soft penalty shout, hitting the woodwork and the disallowed goal.
Fans paid out a great deal of money to support the team today and the team quite simply didn’t turn up. I could accept the loss if the team had battled and showed the same passion and commitment as the fans. Major changes are needed from the top down.
— Lynn Lawler (@Scotslynn) April 22, 2018
Speaking to saintsfc on Sunday as the dust continues to settle on the result, the Welshman explained.
“They were magnificent today. We’re going to show our appreciation next week – it’s a huge game for us. We’ll be ready to go again. We’re clearly disappointed with the result today, but we’ll put that behind us very, very quickly. We’ve got a huge game next week and we’re going to need everybody shouting from the rooftops. It’s going to be a huge help.”
Oriol Romeu was singing from the same hymn sheet and he acknowledged that the next couple of weeks will be the most important for the past few years.
“It is crucial for everyone to stand together and keep up the connection with the fans and that will give us a big chance to get to the last game with options. The support of the fans will be massive. To be honest, the season has gone poorly and we are not where we wanted to be at this point. We have to forget everything that has happened up until now. The only option is to win these last four and see what the other teams will do. That is our focus now and we have to make sure everyone is always on the same side.”
?"Four massively important league games to face." @OriolRomeu looks ahead to a critical few weeks for #SaintsFC: pic.twitter.com/GfeKJv83YP
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 23, 2018
With disappointment still high following the game, fans know we are at the stage of the season where words count for nothing – the players need to do their talking on the pitch in the matches that remain.
They continue to do their job from the stands, they now want a proper 90 minutes out of the players.
Literally no one has any interest in what the players have to say
— Sam Appleton (@Appy0911) April 22, 2018
Let the players talking be done on the pitch! They all seem to talk the talk but can’t walk the walk
— Marc Higgins (@MarcTR4) April 22, 2018
I intend to lose my voice before going back to work Mark! Make sure the boys get the result’
— Alan (@alanhenley) April 23, 2018
This group of players will let us down again against Bournemouth – they have been awful for 2 years. That's why so many seats were empty yesterday but what do I know – I'm just a fan.
— Richie Smith (@Gladbachsaint) April 23, 2018
Yeah we’ll shout from the rooftops Mark…any chance of YOU getting your players to turn up for once? After watching that dross you served up yesterday we already look beaten !!!
— Terry (@Bennett2Terry) April 23, 2018