Ex-Roma boss Ivan Juric falls to West Ham in Southampton debut | OneFootball

Former Roma boss and newly appointed Southampton manager Ivan Juric fell in his club debut after the Saints fell 1-0 to West Ham on Thursday.

The result marked a disappointing start for the Croatian, who officially took charge of the Premier League cellar-dwellers late last week—barely a month after his dismissal from the Giallorossi.

Southampton had plenty of goalscoring opportunities, particularly in the first half—Paul Onuachu nearly opening the scoring with two headed attempts. However, West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen secured his side all three points after he scored the lone goal of the game just before the hour mark.

Despite the loss, Juric was satisfied with the creativity his side showed early in the game.

“I think we did a really good performance,” he told the club’s official website. “From watching our last two games, I think our team can compete.”

“There are lots of things to improve, lots of details we can do better, but in these two games I have seen that my team can compete; we are not too far off other teams.”

He added, “It’s a pity that we lost this game and played well. I was thinking that I will need more time and there are details we have to work on.”

“Sometimes they’re creating something because we defensively miss these details. I think we played good, created a lot, found a way to be dangerous.”

Finally, “We saw today a different Southampton, with ideas, with high pressure, with rhythm. We created chances, shots on goals, I liked lots of things.”

“I think the players have to believe it and keep going like this.”