Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has made a bizarre criticism of Ivan Juric, despite not managing a Southampton game yet.
Ivan Juric is the new manager of Southampton. This was officially confirmed at the weekend, just shy of a week after Russell Martin was sacked. However, the Saints boss was not on the touchline for the match against Fulham, despite this being the plan of his speedy appointment.
The reason why Ivan Juric didn't manage Southampton, according to Daily Echo, is due to work permit delays. Nevertheless, Jamie Carragher was very vocal about why he didn't agree with Juric watching on from the stands at the weekend.
Liverpool legend makes a bizarre critique of Ivan Juric at Southampton
In his own words, Jamie Carragher said (via Sky Sports): “It’s the one thing that always fascinates me when new managers are appointed and they don’t get involved straight away. I just think, if it was my team – I understand he hasn’t trained with them – but I’d be speaking to them before the game, tell them what I’m looking for, give them a message at half-time. What are you waiting for? I’d be straight in there.”
Yeah... Not a great take, is it? This might've been said in jest, we can't say for sure, but the criticism is completely unfair considering the inability to be on the touchline was completely unfair. Of course, Carragher is referring more to not speaking to the players, which he cannot say with certainty.
In fact, Aaron Ramsdale did claim recently that Juric has had his first involvement with the players. Ramsdale confirmed that he was excited by working with Juric and that the new manager had made a promise to the players that he envisions keeping them up.
Southampton fans were frustrated that Juric couldn't be more involved in the preparations against Fulham. However, the frustration was not channelled towards Juric, or anyone really, since the situation was out of anyone's control.
Unfortunately, Juric simply wasn't allowed to prepare the Southampton side. Therefore, it's shocking that we're having this conversation.
However, we can only look forward to Juric's first game in charge of Southampton. It will come on Boxing Day, as Southampton host West Ham United in the Premier League.
Juric is known to be an aggressive manager, which will hopefully transcend in the right ways through the Southampton team. The Saints must fight like their lives depend on it for safety from relegation.
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