RALPH Hasenhuttl knows he has a job to do this evening when his Saints side take on West Ham in the FA Cup (kick-off 7.30pm) – but the Austrian admitted that he “was not a guy that wants to hide” his emotions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Most of Europe has been shocked by the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the unprovoked attack on their Ukrainian neighbours, with the world of sport hitting back with numerous sanctions towards Russia.

UEFA and FIFA have now suspended Russian teams and clubs from playing international fixtures, leading to Spartak Moskow being kicked out of the Europa League.

Despite Hasenhuttl’s impassioned statements regarding Ukraine, the Saints boss knows that he must focus on the upcoming game.

He said in his press conference: “We have to focus on the game. This is our job, and what we try to do.

“I cannot say that you don’t see that something is affecting me also.

“We are all humans, we are not robots. Everything that happens around the world everyday affects you as a person, as a human.

“I am not a guy that wants to hide it, because everybody has the same problems, and you have to speak about it.

“And in the end, it is the same after losing games, you bring yourself to the same level as the players and then start to lift everybody, try to find a way to concentrate on our match.

“ The good thing in our job is that as soon as you step on the pitch you forget it for the next two hours, maybe a little bit longer.

“But maybe later after the game it comes back. This is what happens and it will happen (tonight) also.”

Whilst Hasenhuttl will try to concentrate on the cup tie, he admitted that it was hard to think about anything else at the moment.

“It’s hard when you wake up and go to sleep and you are doing nothing else other than looking at what is happening,” he continued.

“It is hard to find any other thoughts. It is very difficult to concentrate because it is something that changes our world and changes our life.”