Ralph Hassenhuttl is focused on Southampton, laughs off Manchester United links

Southampton are in good form again. This inevitably saw Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl get linked to moving away from the South Coast and managing a top team.

We’ve been here before.

Paul Scholes and Glenn Hoddle have both talked about Hasenhuttl being the man to step into the semi-vacant role at Manchester United.

Even Saints defender Jan Bednarek poured fuel on this imaginary fire by saying how he believes the Austrian coach deserves to manage “the biggest teams in the world.”

We don’t disagree, but we would rather hear people bang on about Southampton’s two 9-0 losses under his leadership than go see the media yet again do their best to tempt a top talent away from St Mary’s.

Thankfully, Hasenhuttl himself seems similarly uninterested by this kind of speculation and joked that Bednarek had no other option than talk up his boss.

“This was a very awful question for a player from my team, what else should he answer?” said Hasenhuttl in his press conference ahead of Everton’s visit on Saturday.

“He has to answer quite well. He tried to come out of this question with a good answer and he did it.”

When it comes to the United role some pundits are linking him to, Hasenhuttl took a more serious tone and dismissed the idea outright.

“This is not in my mind and also not the things that are interesting me. I don’t want to speak about my future every week.

“Last week we spoke about different things, and this week we should be speaking about the game we have now against Everton.

“This is more interesting for me, my whole focus and whole energy is on this game. Anything else I will leave to other people.”

Earlier in February, Hasenhuttl reiterated that he could potentially retire from management once his contract at Southampton expires in 2024, suggesting he wants to stay at the club before calling it a day.

We’d love to see him stick around in football management beyond that year - especially as Saints manager.