GOALKEEPER Gavin Bazunu insists the best players in the world are those who can shut off outside noise, as Saints prepare for another Premier League test under intense scrutiny.
Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl prepares his side to face West Ham United and AFC Bournemouth in a double-header with pressure ramping up after four consecutive defeats.
Weeks of reports on the insecurity of his position have been followed by a further blow of league rivals Chelsea lining up to snatch head of recruitment Joe Shields just months after joining.
Saints, who sit 17th in the division with seven points from their opening nine Premier League matches, will need to get the St Mary’s supporters onside early in Sunday’s clash.
But 20-year-old Bazunu, who still hunts his first clean sheet since a summer move from Manchester City, insists the focus for him and his teammates must be purely on the football.
“There is scrutiny no matter where you are, there is always going to be pressure. But for myself and the team, we have our own standards and we demand them within,” he told the Daily Echo.
“We’re not listening to the noise outside but focussing on the next game or next training session every week, and that’s all we can do.
“It’s a big thing I’ve noticed at this level. Everyone has their opinion and everyone has something to say, but the best players in the world are those who are able to shut it out once they step onto the pitch.”
Bazunu has enjoyed immediate faith under Hasenhuttl and started all nine of the league matches since signing a five-year contract as the first of 10 summer signings.
Having only played as high as League One prior to the £12million move, Bazunu is – like many of the new Saints faces – a long-term project.
The Premier League has been ruthless in showing the young Republic of Ireland international exactly what he has stepped into, with 17 goals having been put past him.
“It’s everything it’s lived up to be, it’s exciting, it’s full of the best players in the world and my point of view is taking each game trying to learn from every one of them as much as I can,” Bazunu said.
“My standards for myself and where I want to be are high enough that it’s above where anyone else would expect me to be. My goal is to follow my own standards rather than the expectations of other people.”
The move to St Mary’s also awarded Bazunu an immediate chance to play at his former side as a top-flight number one, facing Man City at Etihad Stadium last weekend.
“It was a really special moment for me to be able to go back to the club that gave me my opportunity over here in England,” he said.
“It was really nice to see some familiar faces and speak to people I have worked with. It was a disappointing result (4-0) but definitely a special moment for me.”
Much of Bazunu’s learning comes on the training ground, at Staplewood Campus, working with goalkeeping coach Andrew Sparkes and elected mentor Willy Caballero.
Former City shot-stopper Caballero is more than double the Irishman’s age, and Sparkes will facilitate a healthy rivalry between them.
“It’s one of the things I was speaking about with Andrew the other day, about how positive and really good the goalkeeping environment has been so far this season,” Bazunu added.
“We’re goalkeepers at different stages of our careers and we work together through competition because that’s how we get the most out of each other.”
The nature of goalkeeping means mistakes will be made and Bazunu is willing to learn from those.
Free-kick specialist James Maddison exposed the positioning of one of Bazunu’s walls during the eventual 2-1 victory at Leicester City in only his third game.
Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted Gavin Bazunu could have set the wall up a little differently for his goal.
— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) August 20, 2022
But says he is really pleased it wasn't a decisive moment. Labels him a really good young goalkeeper and will only learn with Premier League exposure. #SaintsFC
“It’s definitely something I learned from, these moments as a young goalkeeper stepping up and getting used to the speed of the games,” Bazunu reflected.
“That’s what I’m here to do, to learn from each game and the quicker I can the experience from the previous games the quicker I’ll improve.”
Saints are still looking to register their first clean sheet of the season, with three already at this stage last campaign and further clean sheets coming in matchday 10 and 11.
“It’s not something I am really focussed on,” Bazunu admitted, though. “It’s not lingering in the back of my head or anything like that.
“For me, it’s about staying consistent and building on my performances, learning from the previous games.”
Regardless of what he says, Bazunu will take it gladly if he can keep a first shut-out of his Premier League career when he takes to the sticks versus West Ham on Sunday, October 16 (2PM).
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