Sept 12 (Askume) – Southampton manager Russell Martin said he was not feeling pressure after his side’s performances were criticised following three defeats in the Premier League, unlike last year when he took charge of the club.
Martin took charge of the Saints after they were relegated from the top flight in 2023 and made a poor start to the Championship season, losing four games in a row.
However, Southampton turned things around and retained their play-off place to advance after beating Leeds United in the second-tier play-off final at Wembley in May.
“It’s a job, I don’t like it, it’s not a problem. It doesn’t bother me at all,” Martin told reporters on Thursday.
“It was the same last season, we had a lot of difficulties at the start and then people could say whatever they wanted with very few options and judge us based on eight minutes of highlights. Yeah, so I think it is the same.
“Because those who said we lost four games last season also talked about my great performance at the end of the season.
“Some people called me a very bad appointment for the club and said they needed to make changes after losing four games. The same people will do the same thing now after losing four games, it’s a matter of three games, so I feel that way too.
Southampton, second without a point after three games, host 14th-place Manchester United on Saturday.
Martin said his team were still trying to understand the “level of competition” in the Premier League, adding there would be changes although he would try to remain loyal to the players who have helped the club move forward.
“After three defeats there will definitely be changes. How much will it be, you have to wait and see who will be there. It is a very difficult situation because I am very loyal to the people who have taken us to the Premier League,” he said.
“So I have to balance that loyalty between what they did last season and what some of them are doing now and where they are right now.”
