New Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl admits he consulted some of his former players before accepting a move to St Mary's.

Hasenhuttl has managed Premier League stars Naby Keita at RB Leipzig and Pascal Gross at Ingolstadt.

He admitted that he used Brighton midfielder Gross as a sounding board, saying: "Pascal told me about the league, the clubs in the bottom of the league and (he said) it would be very interesting if I come here and try to take over a club here and perform with this club."

He has not spoken to Liverpool's Guinean star Keita, saying: "I'm not so good in French and he is not good in German and English!

"I know the league now. I have seen a lot of matches. I have seen a lot of matches from Southampton. I know what it's about — but it's a new experience for me for sure."