Brighton boss gives due credit to Ivan Juric for Southampton turnaround | OneFootball

Southampton's improved resilience hasn't resulted in more victories but significant progress has been made on the recognition front. Impressed by their performance leap, Brighton's coach Fabian Hurzeler has praised Ivan Juric.

Do you ever wonder about the fact that Southampton's current manager used to lead Roma a few months ago? I know it seems surreal considering they convinced Ivan Juric to join them at their lowest point.

Agreed, that his Roma stint was far from successful but his Italian pedigree must have encouraged Southampton to hire him.

For those who don't watch Serie A regularly, there is an impressive commitment found among almost all clubs. No matter even if they are on the brink of a defeat, Italian teams still try to push for at least a draw.

Regardless of the final outcome, this trait is commendable which sets up the Italian teams to exceed expectations going forward.

Brighton boss gives due credit to Ivan Juric for Southampton turnaround

Analysing Southampton, some shades of that grit can be found in Juric's starters. As an example, the midfielders and defenders often collectively track back to prevent a one-on-one counter attack, which wasn't the norm before.

Though very few Southampton fans might have observed this newfound resilience, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has already become a fan.

Crediting Juric for this inspiring turnaround, Daily Echo quoted Hurzeler: "They try to press more man-orientated, try to press very high, try to be very aggressive. I think there was a style change, yes."

Receiving such a glowing acknowledgment is a testament to the Saints' hard work. Otherwise, it's easy to get demotivated watching a stagnant growth in the Premier League standings.

Still, the task is far from complete and an end-to-end competitive spirit is needed to spark a relegation escape. Grabbing the three points today will lighten the tough requirement but let's see whether Southampton prevails against high-flying Brighton.