Relegation seems inevitable for Southampton. After the 1-2 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers, manager Ivan Juric spoke clearly to the BBC: "We will be relegated, but we want to go down with more fight, more dignity, and more of everything."
Embed from Getty Images
Southampton’s battle to avoid relegation suffered another devastating setback with a 2-1 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaving the club teetering on the edge of the drop zone with just ten games remaining.
The result only reinforced the growing feeling that survival is slipping out of reach, and manager Ivan Juric did not hide from that reality in his post-match assessment. The Serbian coach, who was brought in last December with the hope of steering the team to safety, admitted that Southampton simply does not have what it takes to stay in the Premier League.
Speaking to the BBC after the match, Juric was brutally honest about the team’s struggles. He acknowledged that, despite their efforts, the players have consistently fallen short when it matters most. “Today was another game that shows we are not ready. There is always something missing,” he admitted. The manager has tried different tactical approaches, shuffled his squad, and demanded more from his players, but time and again, the team has failed to convert promising moments into actual points. “We prepare, we work, we try, but in the end, we lack something fundamental to get results. We are too fragile in key moments, and that has been our story for too long,” he said with clear frustration.
The defeat to Wolves was just the latest example of Southampton’s ongoing struggles. The Saints started the game with intensity and created several chances, but once again, defensive lapses cost them dearly. A familiar pattern played out flashes of attacking promise, spells of dominance in possession, but ultimately, a lack of clinical finishing and costly errors at the back. These recurring issues have haunted them throughout the season, and Juric knows that fixing them this late in the campaign is nearly impossible.
Despite the grim outlook, the manager insisted that the effort and commitment from his players remain intact. “The desire to play well and attack is there. The boys want to win and are doing their best. There are moments when we are simply not good enough, and that’s it,” he said. He acknowledged the brutal truth that, in the end, desire alone is not enough to keep a team in the Premier League. The gap between Southampton and survival is widening with each passing game, and the lack of consistency in performances has left them in a dire situation.
Juric made it clear that while relegation is now the likeliest outcome, Southampton must not go down without a fight. “We know where we stand, but we must not just give up. If we do get relegated, then it should be with our heads held high,” he stated. His words were not just an admission of the inevitable but also a challenge to his squad to ensure that, even if they drop to the Championship, they do so with dignity and resilience.
The mathematical possibility of survival still exists, but it is hanging by a thread. For Southampton to stay in the Premier League, they would have to win all ten of their remaining matches, a feat that seems nearly impossible given their performances this season. Furthermore, they would need 17th-placed Wolverhampton to fail to win any more games. Even the most optimistic of Southampton fans would struggle to see a way out of this predicament.
Juric, however, refused to completely surrender to the idea of relegation just yet. “We have ten games left, and we owe it to the fans, to ourselves, and to this club to keep fighting until the very end,” he declared. “Relegation is looking more and more likely, but we must at least show spirit, courage, and pride. If we are to go down, let it be in a way that reflects the character of this club.”
For Southampton supporters, this season has been a painful one. Expectations were never sky-high, but few could have predicted such a dramatic collapse. The team has endured heavy defeats, squandered crucial leads, and failed to deliver in games where points were there for the taking. The squad, despite showing moments of individual brilliance, has never truly clicked as a unit, and the consequences are now apparent.
Looking ahead, the club faces an uncertain future. If relegation does happen, there will be significant questions about the squad, the manager, and the direction Southampton should take in the Championship. Many players will likely move on, and a rebuild will be necessary. The pressure to secure an immediate return to the Premier League will be immense, but for now, Juric’s focus remains on the present.
The Saints are still breathing, but just barely. Every game from this point forward is a must-win, and even that may not be enough. Southampton’s fate is no longer in their own hands, and the harsh reality is that they are staring down the barrel of relegation. Whether they can defy the odds remains to be seen, but if Juric’s words are anything to go by, they will at least go down fighting.
Updated: 11:50, 16 Mar 2025
