NEW Saints first-team lead coach Ruben Selles has revealed he is “in the same line” as manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, but his different details will “give the best” to the team.

The 38-year-old former FC Copenhagen assistant manager was announced as joining Hasenhuttl’s coaching staff, ahead of the new season, last week.

He is the first appointment since the departure of Craig Fleming, Dave Watson and Kelvin Davis as Saints shuffle the pack in response to a dire campaign-end.

Selles is a student of football, completing his UEFA Pro License at the age of just 25, and has since worked in various roles across Europe’s minor leagues.

And in his first interview since arriving at St Mary’s, Selles has opened up on the working relationship between him and his new boss – Hasenhuttl.

“Ralph is a coach that likes to be active with his team,” Selles told the club website. “Likes to defend really, really high.

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“Likes to have a good defensive system to press high, to get the back four far away from the goalkeeper, to press the opponent, to get the ball back as quick as possible, so I would say we have a lot of common points with our philosophy.”

He continued: “Ralph is from the Red Bull philosophy, where you can find the organisation and the respect to the ball that you need, so I think we are in the same line.

“Of course with different details, and that’s why it’s going to be good, because we can, from each perspective, give the best to the team.”

Daily Echo: Saints have backed Ralph Hasenhuttl with his reported first-choice assistant (Pic: Stuart Martin)Saints have backed Ralph Hasenhuttl with his reported first-choice assistant (Pic: Stuart Martin)

Born in Valencia, Selles’ career has taken him to Greece, Russia, Azerbaijan and Norway, as well as native Spain, where he held youth coaching roles with Valencia and Villarreal.

Selles regularly worked as an assistant manager, most recently last season where he helped FC Copenhagen win their first league title in three years and qualify for the knockout stages of the UEFA Conference League.

“Due to my career I’ve worked in seven countries now, including England,” he added.

“I think I know how to adapt quick into new environments with new people, new players, new culture, and that has been a big point in the last 10 years of my career, working in Azerbaijan and Denmark mainly.

“This also helps in the way that we have been really successful in both countries with four different clubs, and I think that says that I have the ability to read the environment and what is needed to organise a team to be a winning team.

“You will win or lose, but to make a strong team together. Always in Southampton you speak about the family, so I think that has been one of the main points – to be able to create that kind of environment in a team and to perform together to reach the next level.”

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