Relegation fear: Southampton stars turning to their wives as psychologists

Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed his Southampton players are using their wives as psychologists to get over relegation fears.

The Saints are 14th and without a league win in nine games – and have been dragged into the dogfight down the bottom with 12 games remaining.

Three points against lowly Sheffield United tomorrow could spark a surge to safety – but the current pandemic restrictions mean the squad have not had access to psychological experts.

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Boss Hasenhuttl said: “At the moment, our psychologists are our wives at home, I think. We are not allowed to see anybody else.

“In our bubble we have fewer people so it’s tough for us to use a psychologist at the moment.

“For a Zoom meeting maybe it’s possible, but I try to be the psychologist for the guys.

“When they need somebody else to talk to, my assistant coaches can speak to them, as can the physios and doctors.

“There are other people who can give them a cuddle if they need or something else.

“But, finally, we are not sick or something like that.

“We don’t win games at the moment.