Newly appointed Southampton manager Ivan Juric says his side are capable of “something extraordinary” as they look to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.

Juric, formerly of Roma, Genoa and Torino, has also likened his style of football to death metal music as he looks to turn around St Mary’s fortunes this term.

The Croatian will take charge of his first game on Boxing Day, when Southampton host West Ham. Saints are currently bottom of the table on six points, eight points from safety.

Interview with media 📸 pic.twitter.com/Q65aECoVJZ

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 23, 2024

After the sacking of Russell Martin, Juric signed an 18-month contract at Southampton. However, their task, at least on paper, looks rather steep.

In Premier League history, only four teams have finished in the same position on 25 December: West Brom in 2004–05, Sunderland in 2013–14, Leicester in 2014–15 and Wolves in 2022–23.

“It’s going to be a very tough job,” Juric said.

“I know that nobody in history has been in the Premiership with this situation, but I think there are a lot of good players, and in some moments of the game we (be) better.

“I am optimistic. I’m really optimistic. Even the other day, I saw their mindset and that is the first step to doing better. I think we can do something extraordinary. People must be highly motivated to do something that no one has ever done.

🆕 Yours #SaintsFC Team news for Ivan Juric’s first game:

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 23, 2024

Jurić added that the job at Southampton, although challenging, was an exciting prospect and explained how a very distinctive style of music helped inform his strategic approach.

He said: “It was a bit of a dream, the Southampton opportunity.

“I was thinking that life is short, I want to try new things and I want to travel to another way of working, put myself in difficult situations, and that’s it.

“They (players) don’t know me but I know them. I said I believe in them, they have the quality, they can do it. Be positive, work hard and everything is possible.

“When I was younger I really liked death metal music, and I think my style is like football.

“Work hard, press hard, play well, be intense, all of that. I think (the players) can do it.

“They are young, they are positive, they want to work hard. It is not easy to change the style immediately, but we have to be smart.