Paul Onuachu has attributed his difficult spell at Southampton to a combination of poor tactical fit, the timing of his transfer and repeated managerial changes at the club.
The Super Eagles striker joined Southampton with a strong goalscoring record from his time in Belgium and Denmark. However, the move failed to produce the expected impact, with Onuachu unable to score in the Premier League before eventually leaving the club.
Looking back on his time on the south coast in an interview with Trabzonspor Magazine, the forward said the circumstances surrounding his arrival made it difficult to settle and perform.
“There are times in football when things don’t go well. For me, the Southampton period was like that. First of all, the transfer happened in January,” he said.
Onuachu also acknowledged that moving during the mid-season transfer window presented additional challenges, particularly as he tried to adapt to a new league and new teammates.
He said Southampton’s style of play was not suited to his strengths and that the club’s frequent changes in the dugout further reduced his chances of establishing himself.
“I haven’t regretted any of the decisions I’ve made, but sometimes there are questions you need to ask before signing with a team. You need to find out if their system suits you,” he added.
The striker accepted that Southampton’s situation was already uncertain when he joined, with the team facing an even chance of remaining in the Premier League or being relegated.
“Many coaching changes and systems that didn’t suit me. I knew the team had a 50-50 chance of staying in the league or getting relegated. But sometimes you take a risk and then you see if it works. I took the risk and it didn’t work,” said Onuachu.
Southampton’s instability meant he did not receive the consistency or regular backing needed to adapt, while the various tactical approaches made it harder for him to find a settled role.
“Maybe I’m making excuses, but sometimes if you want to go to a team, you need to ask and learn very, very well about the system, how things work in the team, and everything else. That’s all,” he said.
Onuachu has since rebuilt his career in Turkey, where he says the presence of a system that matches his qualities and a coach willing to trust him have been central to his improvement.
Those conditions have helped restore his confidence and allowed him to rediscover his goalscoring form after the frustrating Southampton experience.