Eckert arrived at Southampton in the summer after working as assistant first-team coach at Serie A side Genoa, and he said his bond with the city is already strong.
“I have always felt the responsibility for the city of Southampton, but also before. I had the joy to experience some very nice moments in Genoa, also a city close by the docks, and I think there are some similarities in how the cities live for their football club.
“I remember the promotion, being in the city with the fans, and that is powerful. That’s the motivation for us and I hope I can live up to the challenge for all the people of Southampton.”
The Saints’ next test is a trip to fourth-placed Millwall, and Eckert said he is confident the team can extend their winning run.
“I think we can overcome every challenge in the Championship, and we have to if we want to play for something this year.
“But again, we need to be humble enough to know that there will be moments in the game where we need to suffer and do our work, especially when we don’t have the ball.
“If we manage to control those moments, then I think we have a good chance of taking something home”
