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Central defence is perhaps the only position where Ralph Hasenhuttl is afforded a winter coat.
And while the mere mention of the coldest season may emit some sort of irony, given Southampton’s various ordeals and injury decimations through that period of the season, Hasenhuttl does have an additional layer of warmth when it comes to that area on the pitch.
In comparison to other positions, some of which are so paper thin it can resemble trying to balance a bowling ball on a poppadom, the centre-back axis is well-stocked with fit and prospective options.
On Tuesday evening, Southampton climbed three positions in the table with a 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace. It was the second time in three home games Saints had come from behind to win, with an augmented second half display of intensity showing further indications that this Saints vintage is beginning to rebuild possession-based layers back into their game.
At half-time, Jan Bednarek was replaced by Mohammed Salisu, a player who may have been considered unlucky not to start the match. Despite Hasenhuttl afterwards stating the substitution was enforced rather than tactical – citing Bednarek being on a yellow card and suffering “problems with his leg” – the shift in dynamic could now present a possible window of opportunity for Salisu.
Jan Bednarek has long been Hasenhuttl’s go-to man. The centre-back who embodies his manager’s risk to extract reward methods. Bednarek offers elements of throwback defending, content and concentrated on putting out fires, rather than starting any new ones. Over the past two years and as recently as last week, Hasenhuttl frequently describes Bednarek as his “firefighter,” delivering praise in the same effusive manner only a few select members of the group consistently get.
At just 25-years-old, a relatively young age when viewing him through the prism of a central defender, Bednarek has already made 99 Premier League appearances for the club, with over 75 percent of them coming under Hasenhuttl.
The pair’s relationship is understood to be a close one. Both enjoy working together, with Hasenhuttl’s philosophy on the pitch and in general life lending itself in developing and harnessing Bednarek’s natural strengths. The Pole’s open-minded attitude has given Hasenhuttl full autonomy of his defensive game, moulding the centre-back into a quintessential front foot defender, while also ironing out any wrinkles in his work with the ball.
Previously, Hasenhuttl has viewed Bednarek as a perfectionist, particularly when it comes to personal introspection of his own game. Bednarek has been known to be extremely, sometimes unfairly, tough on himself after games. Hasenhuttl admires the extensive lengths of professionalism the capped international is prepared to reach in wanting to improve all facets of his game. The alliance the pair have formed has been fruitful for all parties since its inception.
However, Bednarek’s half-time substitution against Crystal Palace presented the clearest sign yet that is firefighting flame is starting to burn out. Tuesday’s match was Bednarek’s 40th game for the club this campaign, and his 79 over the previous two. Naturally, it shouldn’t come as a surprise for the defender, who has been on an upward trajectory for the best part of three years, to eventually suffer a dip.
There is a prevalent feeling that Bednarek has not quite fully recovered from the hellacious beating the team took at Old Trafford in February. The rescinding of the red card notwithstanding, the everlasting wisdom of Mike Dean did not help matters, either.
His performance against Crystal Palace was torrid for the most part and produced a 45-minute gateway into his current form. Bednarek was booked just before the break for a trip on perennial free-kick winner Wilfred Zaha. The foul proved indicative of the centre-back’s fortunes in recent months. Keen and willing, but slightly out of step.
Opposing sides are now beginning to play on a mounting chink in Bednarek’s game. Plainly, due to his visible, sometimes overzealous, enthusiasm in wanting to give absolutely everything to the cause, one mistake can often lead to two. Attempts to immediately atone for the error means two become three and before you know it, the defensive unit’s equilibrium is on rocky foundations.
A common theme is emerging in Bednarek’s one-against-one defending. As a direct consequence of a previous mistake, Bednarek then over-compensates his next action, which is often diving in and making too concerted an effort to win his individual duel. And as seen in recent games, a case in point being Leicester’s winner in the FA Cup semi-final where attempts at winning the ball resulted in being spun by Jamie Vardy, it can create a snowball effect in performance.
Another example is demonstrated below, in Southampton’s home defeat to Brighton in March.
A 3v3 becomes a 3v2 when Bednarek doesn’t win a 50/50 with Dan Burn. With an increasing amount of teams playing two up front against Southampton – in this case Danny Welbeck and Neal Maupay – any loss of challenge could have dangerous repercussions.
Having lost the duel, Bednarek is now behind Welbeck and the victor of the battle, Dan Burn, has surged past him. Jannik Vestergaard having to come across to cover means the back four are now outnumbered.
Ryan Bertrand, the recovery defender in this instance, stutters after appearing caught in two minds to whether close Burn or track Pascal Gross. The slight pause for hesitation results in the full-back being left in positional no-man’s-land. The initial mistake by Bednarek leads to a golden one-on-one chance for Gross.
With Jan Bednarek burning out, the future of Jack Stephens future unclear and Mohammed Salisu emerging, Southampton’s centre back situation suddenly looks a lot less clear. Stephens is often the emotion bellwether for this team and is one of the more audible presences when on the pitch. However, Stephens’ display against Palace, like Bednarek, was a reflection of where his standings currently sit amongst the centre-back pack.
It is understood Southampton are open to offloading Stephens in the summer, providing the right offer comes in. Last year, Stephens signed an extension to his contract, but as of yet, is still to be formerly announced by the club. Reports suggest the lack of confirmation by Southampton could be to avoid potential suitors in being discouraged from making a bid.
While the 27-year-old continues to show sustained periods of promise throughout a match, there is always that same-old overarching feeling a defining mistake isn’t far away. The chance presented to Christian Benteke after Stephens miscontrolled a simple pass, handing the striker a golden chance to equalise in the second half, perfectly exemplified the notion.
However, his willingness to play a malleable hand in slotting into multiple positions, does underline a value of importance to Hasenhuttl, especially if his squad remains as threadbare next season as it is now.
Jannik Vestergaard has gone from peripheral bench warmer to arguably Hasenhuttl’s first-choice centre-back, where, as seen with a swift return from a knee injury in February, has become an ‘if fit, must-play’ player. There could be a sticky point to come with the Dane, though, with his contract expiring in 2022 and no resolution yet decided upon. If left unresolved, the situation could become unclear heading into next season.
If Hasenhuttl continues to develop the team’s in-possession work with use of a quasi-back three, Mohammed Salisu may prove to be an integral cog in constructing build-up play. Salisu’s dexterity, in being the only left-footed centre-back at the club, could give Hasenhuttl an extra dimension when attempting to add further layers onto this team.
Left-footed centre-backs are gold dust in modern football recruitment.
Playing a central defender on their favoured side, with their favoured foot, enables teams to introduce more passing lanes and passing angles, largely due to the spin variations of the ball and flight paths a left-footed centre-back can obtain. Advantages can be ten-fold and nuanced, making a side’s circulation of the football less prosaic and more unpredictable.
Admittedly, metrics and statistical data do deliver a pretty damning verdict on Southampton’s defence. There can be little argument that the back four have been softened in 2021, and as seen in moments against Crystal Palace, their fragilities can be exploited. Opposing forwards are now extracting more joy out of taking a physical approach to Saints’ front foot defending. There is a growing feeling some defenders are being bullied too easily and too regularly.
Having conceded 42 goals since the turn of the year, defensive woes have been a collective issue, rather than any jarring individual performance. Each one of the quartet has their distinctive strengths, but, conversely, their own fallible shortcomings.
The conclusion of the campaign will give Hasenhuttl a prolonged period of introspection into his own methods and more significantly, closer evaluation of his players. Fortunes fluctuate and the overall picture does change quickly, but the emergence of Salisu might just add a further point to ponder on.
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