Southampton are bottom of the Premier League table with only one win to their name so far this term and only five points in total, having lost 12 of their 15 games thus far this term
Southampton boss Russell Martin admits his side’s Premier League points haul so far this season is “incredibly hurtful and embarrassing”.
The Saints are rock bottom of the table having only accumulated five points during the current campaign, with their only win of the season coming against Everton last month. They have drawn two games and lost 12, with another frustrating result last Saturday as they were beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa, and Martin believes his side should have more points if not for “a few too many mistakes”.
He said: “We shouldn’t be on the points we are. It’s incredibly hurtful and embarrassing that we’re only on five points, we should have more. But there’s been a few too many mistakes, a few too many moments we haven’t managed well and disappointments in games and setbacks, so we have to keep trying to grow.
“Grow as a group, grow individually and prepare the players for those moments where it’s tough and what to do and find ways to cope and manage emotionally.”
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Southampton face Tottenham on Sunday and Martin hopes he can help his players “switch off” from external noise surrounding their form.
“My job is to try and transmit the belief to the players that they can believe in themselves as much as I believe in them and what we’re doing,” Martin added. “I don’t think they have any doubt when we speak and have open conversations, they believe in what they’re doing or what they’re trying to be or what they’re trying to do.
“Of course wins help that and points help that. The biggest job is to eliminate external noise – it’s so difficult, it’s like maybe at times we’re the only voices telling them they’re good enough. It’s being able to switch that off and zoom in and focus on what’s really important, we’re trying to do that as well as we can with our lads.”
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