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Pochettino wants fans' support

Mauricio Pochettino hopes Southampton's fans will focus more on backing the team than barracking Harry Redknapp in Saturday's clash with QPR.

Last Updated: 28/02/13 at 18:01 Post Comment

Mauricio Pochettino: Aware of Harry Redknapp's Southampton history

Mauricio Pochettino: Aware of Harry Redknapp's Southampton history

Redknapp takes QPR to the south coast on Saturday as the Premier League's bottom-placed side look to kick-start their fight against relegation.

That is something he tasted at the Southampton helm, finishing the 2004/05 season bottom of the table as the club's 27-year spell in the top flight came to an end.

Redknapp quit later that year to rejoin bitter rivals Portsmouth, which the home fans will no doubt remind him of when he makes his first return.

Pochettino, who like Redknapp celebrates his birthday on Saturday, is aware of the strength of feeling towards his QPR counterpart but is only focused on the game itself.

"I do know the past of Southampton, but I do not know every single detail of what happened," the Argentinian said.

"I am always interested in football matters so I have become interested in this matter as well.

"But I think my main goal is always to generate a positive atmosphere for my team and always respect what the people say.

"I will thoroughly respect whatever they want to say on Saturday, but I think what is truly important is that they get behind the team and push us to try and get the three points as best as we can."

Victory for Southampton would move them further away from the relegation zone and leave QPR deeper in the relegation mire.

Redknapp has highlighted 37 points as the tally required to beat the drop but Pochettino does not buy into such talk.

"We haven't set ourselves a certain amount of points," he said.

"We have just set out to win every single match and then at the end of the season we will look at how far close we came to achieving the ambitions we have."

It is now six weeks since Pochettino replaced fans' favourite Nigel Adkins at the Saints helm.

The former Espanyol boss is getting into the swing of things and is impressed by the level of support he receives.

"It is very different to being in Barcelona," he said. "Joking aside, we (the coaching staff) are very happy to be here.

"We have found ourselves in a very tranquil city, a very calm place during the week.

"We spend from 7am to 8pm at the training ground so we don't get to see much of the city, but it is true that we experience football in a much more intense way here.

"We are very aware of the passion of the English fans and of those in the Premier League.

"I think every game we have played at St Mary's we have felt that warmth and kindness from the fans.

"So far so good, we have just experienced good things so far."

One trait Pochettino shares with predecessor Adkins is a coyness when it comes to injury news.

"I have not given the list yet," he said, speaking through his translator. "Tomorrow I will give the list.

"I will provide the list to the people that really matter to me before any other third party so the players will know beforehand if they are in the squad or not."

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