SOUTHAMPON -INIFTMAUTER SIMON RUSK has said that none of his players drop their professionalism on Saturday before the hosting of Aston Villa, despite the relegation confirmed last week.
Saints have so far demanded only nine points this season in 31 games, with head coach Ivan Juric left on Monday after confirmation of the decrease.
But Rusk, who takes over the tasks of the care manager for the second time, continues to trust in the ability of his players to overcome the disappointment.
“It was clear that there was a period in which it hurt, it was a difficult one. The players hurt and we hurt as you would expect,” said Rusk, as quoted by BBC Sport.
“There is no sniff of anyone [not wanting to play]. When you initially go through the pain and disappointment, professionalism starts and they know that there is a task to do and to play for the fans.
“We play in one of the greatest competitions in the world and we will not get away because we are not dedicated, every player wants to end as strong as possible this season.”
When he spoke about the motivation prior to the last seven games of the campaign, Rusk said that their upcoming championship campaign was already in Focus.
“We build Momentum in next season, for me some of the biggest memories are like a supporter,” he said.
“If we can pop up and win games and give people moments – it's what it's all about. We'll keep giving everything and I hope the results come with it and we give people moments when they enjoy and remember.”
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery gave an idea if he would rotate his team last week in the aftermath of their victory over Nottingham Forest.
Villa has made eight changes to the starting XI for their quarterfinals of the Champions League road to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday after the forest victory.
“We also did it in Preston. It is very important to manage the players we have. We are more less with the available players,” he said.
We are back on our travels, while we go to the south coast to cope
– Aston Villa (@AVFCofficial) April 11, 2025
Players to watch
Southampton – Mateus Fernandes
This season, no player has more involvement of the competition goal for Southampton than Mateus Fernandes (five – two goals, three assists).
With a goal and an assist in his last two games, he could only become the second Saints player who scored or assists a goal in three consecutive Premier League performances while he was 20 years or younger, after Kevin Davies in November 1997 (four in a row).
Aston Villa – Morgan Rogers
Rogers comes after having scored in back-to-back matches in all competitions against Nottingham Forest and Paris Saint-Germain, which brought his count to 14 goals for the season.
This season he also created 18 chances for Ollie Watkins in the Premier League-De Most player for a single teammate in the 2024-25 competition.
Match forecast: Aston Villa Win
This season, Southampton has lost 25 of their 31 Premier League matches (W2 D4), the joint-mast competition beats in a single campaign in their history, also lost 25 times in their last top campaign (2022-23).
Southampton is without victory in their last 10 home games in the Premier League and lost nine of them (D1). The Saints only won 11 consecutive home competitions once, and did this in the championship from October 2008 to February 2009.
This season they also lost 12 of their 15 Premier League matches in St. Mary's (W1 D2) -Hun joint home reports in a single league campaign in their history and also lose 12 in 2022-23 in the Premier League.
Aston Villa has since won their last four Premier League matches against Southampton with a total score of 7-0. They are also on the longest winning run in the Premier League and have won three in the spider.
Opta wins probability
Southampton – 19.8%
Tick ​​- 22.2%
Aston Villa – 57.9%