Ralph Hasenhüttl is loving the challenge of facing “super successful managers” in the Premier League, ahead of another meeting with a serial Champions League winner.
Just four days after overcoming Pep Guardiola for the first time in six attempts, the Saints boss takes his team to Goodison Park to tackle Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton.
Hasenhüttl is relishing the prospect of locking horns with Ancelotti again, having done so in Germany where, like Guardiola before him, the Italian was in charge of Bayern Munich.
“This is definitely one of the best parts of being in the Premier League – you have a big challenge every week,” he said. “They are both super successful managers who have won everything in their career.
“It’s always interesting and amazing to battle with them and it makes yourself better as a manager.
“Every day is enjoyable and you see you have a fantastic job. This week is not different, so again I am looking forward to this game – hopefully with a good result again.”
Hasenhüttl praised Ancelotti’s impact in transforming Everton from relegation candidates into European contenders in the blink of an eye, following his appointment in December.
“They had a good run and he made a fantastic development to make quick steps out of the relegation zone,” he added.
“When we played them last time, I think they were with us in the same struggle, but they made it much quicker out of the relegation zone.
“It shows how well he has performed with this team, how quick they adapted to his style of football and how quick he managed them to play more successfully.”
