Pochettino not feeling the pressure

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino said that he relished being in the pressure situation of their fight against relegation before their 0-0 draw with Norwich City this afternoon.

The 41-year-old has made his mark on the team since taking over in January, and while they have been praised for their attractive style of play the Saints have won just one of their last six matches.

Southampton currently lie in 16th position, only three points clear of the relegation zone after gaining one point today.

“I don’t have any problem with anyone telling me they are upset we have not won these six games. I also think we should have won,” Pochettino told reporters.

“We are always producing more than our rivals. We have also made some mistakes but overall our outlook is correct.

“No-one said it was going to be easy. Everything takes time and you cannot wave a magic wand to be able to find solutions, I like the pressure and relish being in a pressure situation.”

Pochettino’s predecessor Nigel Adkins was a firm favourite at St Mary’s and many predicted a torrid time for the former Espanyol manager, but he says he is pleased with his treatment so far.

“I am really happy with the way the club and the fans have treated me,” he added.

Pochettino has also admitted that it is never easy ‘getting on a train that is already moving’, but that he is fully up for the fight to keep Southampton as a Premier League club.

He said: “I am not thinking about relegation, I am just working hard every day to get results. There are many games ahead and we need to get as many points as possible in order to not be in that relegation fight.”