Hojbjerg defends Charlie Austin's impassioned interview

Fans had started to question whether players really cared about the club, with Hojbjerg arguing that Austin's rant is evidence that they really do. 

Austin ranted in his post-match interview following the 1-1 draw with Watford as striker branded the controversial decision to disallow his goal with Southampton 1-0 ahead "a joke", and said the Video Assistant Referee system needed to be introduced to help officials.

"Charlie was raging and of course it can be a little bit funny," Hojbjerg told the 'Daily Mail'. "But I don't think the whole situation is funny.

"What I can say about Charlie is I fully understand his emotion, and we spoke together as team-mates about what happened. Charlie's interview shows that players do care. Believe me, we care a lot.

"It also show that football is about emotions, and Charlie said what everyone saw and maybe what the Southampton shirts felt."

Southampton have won only once in the league this season - away to Crystal Palace at the start of September - and the pressure has steadily mounted on manager Mark Hughes.

"We are behind the manager 100 per cent," Hojbjerg said. "I have to say we are working very good and very hard in the week, and the team is trying its best to give back what the manager is producing on the training field.

"It is not an easy moment now, but we are a good team. We have said that a lot, at times too much, but we are a good team and we can get out of this situation", he added.