by New Southampton manager Ivan Juric has said he plans to implement an aggressive style of play similar to death metal, his favorite genre of music. Juric, who watched Saints’ draw against Fulham from the stands on Sunday, started work on Monday after obtaining his visa.
Juric signed an 18-month contract, with a termination clause announced next summer, to succeed Russell Martin. Two years ago he discussed replacing Ralph Hasenhüttl, but Nathan Jones was appointed.
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Juric’s first match will be at home to West Ham on Boxing Day. “When I was young I really liked death metal music and it’s something that’s very similar to my style of football,” said the former Roma coach. “It’s a very pressing style. NOW [I’m] a little less [of a death metal fan]I’m a little soft now.
He previously said he first enjoyed the sounds of Metallica and Megadeth before moving on to bands such as Napalm Death, Obituary and Carcass. “I’m not a golfer, it’s not a game for me…I’m a little more aggressive,” he said Monday. “Now it is important to work hard and understand everything that happened.”
Juric said he was undeterred by the challenge at St Mary’s, with the Saints bottom and eight points from safety after one win in 17 matches. No team has avoided relegation after losing 10 of their first 12 matches.
The Saints have six points from 17 matches, the same tally at this stage as the Derby County side who finished the 2007-08 season with a record 11 points. “Guys have to be motivated to do something that’s never been done,” Juric said. “We can do something exceptional. Nobody stayed in the Premier League because of this situation. There are a lot of good players, I’m really optimistic.
The 49-year-old, sacked by Roma last month, never succeeded in England but always kept one eye on the championship. “I was a big fan of [Marcelo] Bielsa when he was at Leeds. I like the way he thinks about football.
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Asked what encouraged him during the Saints draw at Craven Cottage, he said: “It was the ideal mentality. They [the team] were solid. They didn’t create much but they were a competitive team. It wasn’t easy to beat us. They [the players] I don’t know myself but I know them. I told them I believed in them.
