Ivan Juric, the head coach of Southampton, has praised Nigerian players Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo for their roles in Saturday’s crucial victory over Ipswich Town.
Southampton had been at the bottom of the league standings going into the encounter at Portman Road, having just won one of their previous 23 league games.
But in addition to giving the squad three points, Aribo’s first goal and Onuachu’s late winner also represented Juric’s first triumph since taking over.
“This is a great time for us. In certain games, like the one against Manchester United, we performed admirably but were unable to get any points. Even though we had some difficult times, the guys were incredibly resilient, and we deserved this victory,” Juric wrote on Southampton’s official website.
Even though the club had to make tactical adjustments due to players like Harwood-Bellis and Jack Stephens, he emphasized the team’s character in their defensive efforts.
Juric was confident in his team’s potential, pointing out that Onuachu’s goal demonstrated the extraordinary skills of both Paul Onuachu and Deeno (Kamaldeen).
The fact that Onuachu’s efforts paid off and that he deserved to be on the scoresheet was a major highlight. He has this as his second objective, and I think he can do even more,” said Juric.
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Juric also used the occasion to praise Aribo’s commitment and adaptability, calling him a great asset to the group. Joe is exceptional; whether he plays midfield, defense, or forward, he prioritizes the needs of the team. Even though he played left center-back in the second half today, he still performed admirably. Joe was really outstanding today, but the whole team put up a lot of effort,” the coach said.
Even though the result was favorable, Southampton still faces the threat of relegation to the EFL Championship with just nine points from 24 English Premier League games.
