Martin says Guardiola praise will not stop sack talk… and tips Amorim to be ‘brilliant’ at Manchester United

Southampton manager Russell Martin does not expect effusive praise from Pep Guardiola to quell talk that he is on the brink of the sack – and called journalists “lazy” for claiming his side’s defeat to Leicester City would cost him his job.

Saints spurned a 2-0 lead at home to their fellow promoted team to lose 3-2 to the Foxes on October 19, when Jordan Ayew’s 98th-minute penalty decided the game.

Their subsequent 1-0 defeat at Manchester City left Guardiola, who has made City the dominant force in English football while winning the Premier League six times, saying he would “learn a lot” from Southampton’s attractive style of play.

Pep Guardiola praised winless Southampton and said he can learn from the way Russell Martin’s bottom-placed side made life hard in Manchester City’s narrow victory pic.twitter.com/GXO3VJBRra

— PA Dugout (@PAdugout) October 27, 2024

“I don’t know,” Martin replied when he was asked if those comments could quieten talk about his future. “I’m pretty sure it won’t because we have to win. That’s what people will be interested in.

“He’s been in this job for a much longer time than me, so he understands the stresses and strains of it and what’s difficult and what’s not.

“It’s good to hear certain things from him. We had a chat after, but in terms of what else was said and all that, I don’t know.”

Amorim ‘brilliant’ for Man United

Martin was among the favourites to become the first Premier League manager to be sacked this season before Manchester United dismissed Erik ten Hag on Monday.

Sporting’s Ruben Amorim will replace Ten Hag on November 11 and Martin has backed the appointment, partly because he believes in the expertise of United Technical Director and former Southampton Director of Football Jason Wilcox.

Friday from pitchside 📲 pic.twitter.com/CON1yieltf

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) November 1, 2024

“I really admire the way his team plays and I think he’ll do a brilliant job for Man United,” Martin said of the Portuguese. “He’s a brilliant coach.

“I’ve watched a lot of his team and they’re really good. It’s a good appointment but I’m not the man to give him any advice at all.

“He’s done a brilliant job at Sporting Lisbon, so he will not come to me for any advice and I’m not in the guise of giving advice to anyone, including my players.”

Southampton results

Southampton could be eight points from safety if they lose at home to fifth-bottom Everton on Saturday (3pm GMT).

“Everyone reported that the Leicester one – or the lazy journalists did – was do or die, that I’d get sacked if we lost that,” said Martin, who took Southampton up at the first time of asking via the 2023-24 Championship play-offs.

“And then I saw one on Saturday about Man City: if we lost there, I’d get sacked that night. The owners have been brilliant. When I speak to [them], everyone’s been so supportive.

“We all understand we have to do it a bit differently. We can’t go out and spend a huge amount of money. So we have to do something differently and we’re trying to do it in our way and we will keep trying to do it until I am told I’m not required to try any more.

“We’re enjoying the journey and we’re getting better. We’re improving, we’re growing. Now the next step is to win, because we have to.”