Southampton’s Nathan Jones on ‘compromises’ holding him back from ‘best in Europe’ job he did at Luton | Football News

Nathan Jones has defended his credentials as one of Europe’s statist managers at Luton but admits he has been “compromised” since joining struggling Southampton.

Jones has overseen six defeats from seven games since succeeding Ralph Hasenhuttl in November, with Southampton bottom of the Premier League and three points from safety.

Traveling Saints fans called for the Welshman to leave the club during Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford, but Jones went out fighting.

While admitting his own mistakes since his arrival, the former Luton boss defended his managerial record and highlighted his previous successes in the game that had earned him the job in the first place.

“I’ve compromised,” he said. “I have compromised on certain principles because one, the personnel, but two, the way people want to play and so on.

“I have compromised because of the fans, etc., some small things but – nothing more. I have been very successful playing a smooth style, Luton is an aggressive front side. Statistically, not much. better than me throughout Europe in terms of aggression, clean sheets, defend the box, ball in the box, xG, all that sort of thing.

“We were pound-for-pound the best because we threw next to nothing and produced more. And I’ve gone from that.

“Maybe it’s because of the Premier League or how things are going – players, internationals and so on. I had to compromise on some things and I won’t do it again.”

Southampton are the Premier League’s fourth-lowest scorers this season and have conceded nearly two goals per game in their 21 matches so far, a blow Jones has been unable to arrest since his arrival – failing to keep a single clean sheet in those seven. league games to date.

Asked to pinpoint the source of Southampton’s problems, he added: “The same thing has happened for a year, it’s still happening. They’ve lost in the Premier League and conceded goals not defending the box well, not scoring goals. enough goals, and it’s exactly the same .

“We were brought in to do something different because we were on a tight budget [at Luton], we were scoring goals, defending the box well, out-pressing the team and finishing. We did the basics well. That’s why I was recruited – to transfer to a football club. I haven’t in a minute. That will change.”

Asked if he would have time at Southampton to implement the change, he said: “I don’t know. That’s not a question for me. I hope so.

“I look at the team and I don’t see myself in the team. The biggest thing, that’s going to change.”