Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl believes that sides may need more than 40 points to survive in the Premier League this season. Hasenhuttl’s men currently sit on the magic 40 point mark but could still be looking nervously over their shoulders with Burnley, Leeds United and Everton all in decent form in their battle to beat the drop.
The Saints sit six points clear of both Burnley and Leeds, though they both have a game in hand. They are also eight ahead of Everton, but they still have five matches still to play in comparison to Southampton’s three.
Hasenhuttl’s side make the trip to Brentford this weekend, who also sit on 40 points, and have a tough end to the season with both Liverpool and Leicester City left to play. Three defeats in that period could allow each of the three sides below them the opportunity – which could claw them right back into danger.
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Speaking ahead of this weekend’s trip to the Bees, Hasenhuttl claim for the first time in several seasons, 40 points may not be enough to remain in the division.
Via quotes from Hampshire Live, he said: “I think this season it can definitely be that you need 40 or maybe more points, this is possible for the first time in a long time. I don't know if all three teams down there pick up more points than we have, or we make until the end of the season. I'm not sure.
"But it’s not about having the feeling of being safe, we have a chance for a top ten position, this is the direction we are looking to be honest. We have a game now against Brentford and we want to do it better than the last game against Crystal Palace, especially in the end, and this would then maybe give us the chance to end up higher in the table.”
