Manchester United may be returning to Premier League action after successive defeats but, make no mistake, Russell Martin is fully aware of the size of the task facing his Southampton side.
Even if their tactics remain a source of much debate – not just on the terraces but reportedly behind the scenes at Old Trafford too – Manchester United still possess the individual talent to hurt any side on their day.
Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo and Marcus Rashford are capable of winning games all on their own with a piece of rabbit-out-of-the-hat magic.
Joshua Zirkzee, meanwhile, is a striker in confident mood after his ‘beautiful’ display for the Netherlands against Bosnia in the week.
Only the fourth Dutch player to score and assist on his full debut since 1978.
Manchester United travel to Southampton on Saturday
“They are a team full of top, top talent,” Saints boss Martin tells the Daily Echo. “Really top players that, on their day, can really hurt anyone. We have to make sure that we approach the game in our way.
“I don’t think any of us are underestimating Manchester United, the challenge, what it takes to play for that club and the level of individual talent they have.
“And then the coach they have and the level he’s been at. I don’t think any of us are underestimating. It’s going to be tough. It’ll be a really tough game.”
Manchester United travel to Southampton on Saturday
“They are a team full of top, top talent,” Saints boss Martin tells the Daily Echo. “Really top players that, on their day, can really hurt anyone. We have to make sure that we approach the game in our way.
“I don’t think any of us are underestimating Manchester United, the challenge, what it takes to play for that club and the level of individual talent they have.
“And then the coach they have and the level he’s been at. I don’t think any of us are underestimating. It’s going to be tough. It’ll be a really tough game.”
If Martin was under any illusions about the pressure of being a Premier League manager, his first few weeks in the big time is proof that any honeymoon period – in the eyes of the media anyway – is already on it’s last legs.
Southampton have lost all three games so far, scoring only once.
Martin’s patient, possession-heavy methods have some wondering if The Saints – who were caught out by Brentford’s high-pressing time and again last time out – will go the same way as Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.
And Martin’s opposite number this weekend certainly knows how it feels to find yourself in the crossfire.
“I don’t know him and I haven’t come across him,” Martin says of Ten Hag. “I’ve watched a lot of his team recently to analyse them and understand what can hurt us and how we can try and hurt them,”
“I hope to be under that level of scrutiny that he is someday in a job like that. I know he’s working with a guy that I had the pleasure of working with in Jason Wilcox.”
Russell Martin backs Jason Wilcox to help Erik ten Hag
Wilcox, Man United’s new technical director, spent a year-and-a-half working as the director of football at Southampton.
He played a major role in the appointment of former Swansea City boss Martin back in 2023. The admiration between Wilcox and Martin goes both ways, the former hailing the latter for ‘changing the culture of this club‘ as Southampton bounced back from relegation at the first time of asking.
Amid reports suggesting that those behind the scenes are growing increasingly concerned about Ten Hag, per The Guardian, Martin believes that the Dutchman could not be working with a better partner in Wilcox.
“He’ll be there supporting him, I’m sure, because he’s a great person,” Martin insists, looking forward to that reunion with the former England international. “I owe him a lot for giving me the opportunity here and the relationship we had.
“Of course, he was brave enough to stick his neck out and give me the job along with the owners. I will always be grateful for that.
“I’ll always be grateful to him and he deserves the opportunity he has now in a club like that. He’s a really top operator and it’ll be nice to see him.”
Wilcox helped Martin preside over Southampton’s emergence as a team obsessed with keeping possession and grinding down the opposition with their death-by-a-thousand-passes approach.
According to reporter Alan Nixon, the Ineos hire is keen to bring about a similar transformation at Man United.
