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Southampton manager Ivan Juric has called on his struggling squad to fight for pride and avoid going down in history as the worst team in Premier League history as they near an inevitable return to the Championship.
The Saints, who host FA Cup semi-finalists Crystal Palace on Wednesday, have endured a dismal campaign, picking up just nine points from 29 matches. Rooted to the bottom of the table, they sit a staggering 17 points adrift of safety, having won only twice all season.
Their dire form puts them at risk of finishing with fewer points than Derby County’s record-low tally of 11 in the 2007/08 season.
Juric, who took charge in December following the dismissal of Russell Martin, insists his side must show resilience and motivation in their final nine matches.
“We have to compete and give our best,” the 49-year-old Croatian coach said on Tuesday. “I don’t want us to be remembered as the worst team in Premier League history. If we can avoid finishing last, that has to be our goal.”
Despite signing an 18-month contract, Juric’s long-term future at Southampton remains uncertain. However, he is staying focused on the immediate task at hand.
“If you want to build something, you need people with a clear vision and strong ideas,” he explained. “Right now, my job is to get the best out of the players we have.”
With relegation almost certain, Southampton are likely to be joined by fellow promoted sides Leicester and Ipswich, both of whom are also struggling in their battle for survival.
