Southampton FC Manager Advices His Players to Look Up To Dominic Thiem

If there is anything common between professional soccer manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and Dominic Thiem, it is their undying love for Austria. Both are successful in their respective fields, and Hasenhuttl wants his team Southampton F.C. to draw inspiration from his compatriot! 

Southampton competes in the top tier of English Football and is a renowned club with a rich history. Hasenhuttl has been their manager since 2018, and he’s rapidly building them to compete against the giants in the Premier League. 

The Austrian was asked to evaluate his progress with Southampton and if he could draw any similarities with how Thiem has been rising in the ATP circuit. 

“If you want to develop, you need these games against big teams and big players to see how good they are and then to learn to adapt your game. This is what he did also,” Hasenhuttl mentioned. 

The 53-year-old has built a winning atmosphere in Southampton and wants his team to never back down in the face of big challenges. 

“It’s not only waiting about until they are too old and not playing anymore because others will do the same and then you must compete with them.”

Ralph Hasenhuttl has no second thoughts about Thiem’s quality and assures that he will be World No.1 in the future. Moreover, he put forth his disappointment of not being able to watch him at the ATP Finals in London. 

“I’m always following his development and his game. It’s amazing the progress he has made. I would like to have watched him live once here in England, in London, but it’s not possible at the moment,” said Hasenhuttl 

Dominic Thiem on facing the ‘Big 3’ in tennis

Dominic Thiem announced his talent on the big stage years ago. A lot of expectations were riding on the Austrian and he’s living up to them now. Furthermore, Dominic Thiem is only the second player to register five victories against the ‘Big 3’ as we know them. 

Andy Murray was the first player to do it, and Thiem has now followed in his footsteps. The 27-year-old was asked to share his thoughts on playing either Djokovic, Nadal, or Federer at competitive events. Here’s what he said: 

“I love to play against them. As I said, it’s such a huge thing-every single match against them. Younger players can feel super happy that these three living legends are around them, we can compete with them. Every match against them is a great opportunity. And, that’s what I think about it,” the 2020 US Open champion said. 

Thiem has a massive chance to add the ATP Finals title to his impressive trophy cabinet. He faces Russian Daniil Medvedev in the championship match in a crowd less O2 Arena in London.