Southampton’s Juric Eager to Steer Clear of Premier League ‘Worst Team’ Label

In a bold move, Southampton’s manager Ivan Juric has urged his struggling squad to demonstrate they’re not the most underwhelming team in Premier League history, as they face the stark reality of relegation back to the Championship.

The Saints, set to host Crystal Palace – semi-finalists in the FA Cup – on Wednesday, find themselves with a dismal tally of just nine points from 29 matches this season.

Currently at the bottom of the league, they sit 17 points adrift of safety, managing only two victories throughout the campaign.

The south-coast club is perilously close to finishing with fewer points than Derby’s record low of 11 in the 2007/08 season.

Though relegation looms, Juric, who took over from Russell Martin in December, is demanding complete dedication through the Saints’ remaining nine fixtures.

“The team needs to be competitive and give their utmost effort. We must find our motivation,” the 49-year-old Croatian stated on Tuesday.

“I don’t want us to be recognised as the worst team in Premier League history. If there’s a chance to avoid finishing at the bottom, we need to give it our all; that is our goal at this time.”

Despite being handed an 18-month contract, Juric’s own position remains uncertain.

The former Torino and Roma manager expressed that his focus is solely on the immediate challenges at hand.

“To build something successful, you need individuals with a clear vision, who understand their objectives and can start to create,” he remarked.

“However, sometimes you have to make the best of the players available to you.”

Unless there’s a dramatic turnaround, it appears both Leicester and Ipswich, who were also promoted last season, are set to be relegated alongside Southampton.