NEW boss Ivan Juric believes Saints can achieve something "exceptional" but insisted his players have to be "very motivated to do something nobody did" before.

Juric, 49, spoke to the media for the first time on Monday, shortly after receiving his visa, having signed an 18-month deal on Saturday.

He watched from the stands against Fulham as interim boss Simon Rusk oversaw a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage.

Juric is aware Saints are up against it, they sit eight points adrift of safety with a -25 goal difference, but he remains "optimistic" about what they can achieve.

"I know it will be a very tough job. I know that in history nobody has stayed in the Premier League with this situation," he said.

"I think there are a lot of good players and we can be much better in some moments of the game. I'm optimistic.

"Even the other day (against Fulham), I saw another mentality and it's the first step towards doing better.

"I think we can do something exceptional and the guys have to be very motivated to do something that nobody did."

READ MORE: Southampton defender expecting to 'train hard' under Juric

Juric's appointment marks a change of style. Where Russell Martin placed the primary focus on possession, the Croatian wants intensity.

He linked his philosophy to death metal, his favourite music genre in his youth. Asked what Southampton fans can expect from his side, he said: "It's a high-pressure style.

"What I want from my team is to be very competitive, solid and with time we will get better in the possession and attacking.

"The first thing I want is to make us competitive in every game. Like I said, even the other day, I saw good things about the team and this is the way we have to do it.

Ivan Juric in the stands at Fulham. (Image: Southampton FC/PA) "Maybe people don't know my way of playing in Torino or Verona because we didn't play in Europe.

"But the style is Atalanta style and you watch a game against Arsenal or Liverpool. We want to press high and play good and a little bit of everything."

Juric will take his first Saints game against West Ham, who drew 1-1 with Brighton this week, at St Mary's on Boxing Day.

"We have already analysed a little bit of West Ham and in some way, it's similar to Fulham," he explained.

"They have very good players, very fast players but I believe that Southampton can do a good game and that we can win."