Juric 'very optimistic' after seeing Saints play

Southampton boss Ivan Juric is aware the club is in "a really bad situation", with the Saints sitting nine points adrift from safety at the bottom of the Premier League table, but he hopes to do "great work" at St Mary's Stadium.

Speaking to the club's media after signing an 18-month contract, the Croatian manager said: "I'm very pleased. I think it is a really big challenge for me and my staff. I think we can do great work here.

"I have watched lots of Southampton games over the past few days - to see what problems there are and to try to understand the situation.

"I'm really happy [to be here] and I'm sure I will enjoy this work.

"It is a really bad situation at the moment, but I'm very optimistic because I have seen the team. They can do better [than they are] and I will try to improve them."