Southampton boss warns club must make instant Premier League return
Ivan Juric's side are bottom of the table
Southampton boss Ivan Juric has warned the club must look to make an instant return to the Premier League or face "huge problems" with relegation looming.
The Saints - who sit adrift at the bottom of the table on 10 points - are away at Tottenham today, when a defeat could see their demotion confirmed should other results have also gone against them.
Juric saw his side come close to a much-needed win in midweek, only for Matheus Franca to score a stoppage-time equaliser and earn Crystal Palace a 1-1 draw.
Former Torino and Roma boss Juric replaced Russell Martin just before Christmas on an 18-month deal.
Whether or not the Croatian will be in charge at St Mary's Stadium next season remains to be seen.
Juric, though, stressed the club must launch a swift promotion bid to avoid being stuck back in the Championship again like so many other teams who have gone down.
"The first year is the most important year, because if you don't go to the Premier League again then you have huge problems because (after) then it is not easy," Juric told a press conference.
"You have to create a strong team and try to return immediately."
Juric has, though, been impressed with how the squad have continued to push on despite relegation seemingly inevitable.
"There is always a good group now, not a huge problem. In the past, I had worse groups. They are always a good group," he said.
"Normally they always try to train hard, do their best and everything. I am really happy with them and how they work.
"They are a huge group of professional players, they want to work hard. Like the last game, it was like an example of professionalism, of doing everything they can.
"After the game, they were really sad because they felt they had given a good performance, but they didn't win, and I don't have a problem with that."
Tottenham slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea on Thursday night, increasing the pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou.
Juric, however, feels Spurs still have plenty of quality to cause problems for teams at both ends of the table.
"I have a feeling they are like last year," said Juric, who will be without midfielder Flynn Downes through suspension.
"They are much more compact and I think some players are crucial for them, like (Cristian) Romero, and they are really good again."