MANCHESTER: Pep Guardiola claimed he can learn from Southampton manager Russell Martin after the Premier League’s bottom side made Manchester City sweat for their 1-0 win on Saturday.
Despite failing to win a single league match this season, Southampton frustrated City for long spells at the Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland’s fifth-minute opener could have been the signal for a City rout, but Southampton stuck to Martin’s principles and made life challenging for the champions.
Cameron Archer hit the crossbar on the stroke of half-time and City missed several chances to deliver a knockout blow.
Impressed by Martin’s tactics, Guardiola said: “Today it was not how Southampton defend deep it was how good they play with the ball with the keeper and the movement.
“It’s a good game to learn as a manager. I am going to learn a lot with Russell because they did really well. We were humble and accepted that they did really well.”
Unbeaten City sit top of the table, but will surrender first place to Liverpool if Arne Slot’s team win at title rivals Arsenal on Sunday.
Guardiola will be keeping an eye on that result while he digests the lessons of a hard-fought clash with lowly Southampton.
“I’m a big believer for the process to the build-up. I prefer the players get the ball to the feet, not the teeth,” he said.
“When that happens it’s because it was an incredible process. We were not sloppy, we were not flat but we struggled to regain the ball because they are really good.
“I’m a spectator, when I see the opponent do the things I like to do with my team and they do it really well, I make a compliment. I’m sure I will learn. Some movements, the reasons why they do it.”
After narrow wins over Fulham, Wolves and Southampton in their last three league games, Guardiola made a point of praising the Premier League’s depth of talent.
“It’s not easy, but we created enough chances to win better. I like to win in that way, as it proved in the last two games against Wolves and Southampton, who right now are bottom of the league and look how difficult,” he said.
“I don’t have any complaints about my team because when the opponent is good you have to accept it. This is what happened.”
Guardiola vows to learn from rock-bottom Southampton after tight win
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Guardiola vows to learn from rock-bottom Southampton after tight win
- Despite failing to win a single league match this season, Southampton frustrated City for long spells at the Etihad Stadium
Neymar to undergo knee surgery after helping Santos avoid the drop
- The 33-year-old returned to his childhood club Santos in January after a stint in Saudi Arabia and had a crucial impact in his team’s survival in the Brazilian top flight, scoring five goals in the last four matches
- He did not provide details on the surgery or a timeline on his expected recovery
SANTOS, SAO PAULO: Neymar will undergo knee surgery after playing through the pain to help Santos avoid relegation with a 3-0 win over Cruzeiro on Sunday, raising more doubts about the winger’s chances of playing at next year’s World Cup.
The 33-year-old returned to his childhood club Santos in January after a stint in Saudi Arabia and had a crucial impact in his team’s survival in the Brazilian top flight, scoring five goals in the last four matches.
“I came for this, to try to help the best way I can. These have been tough weeks for me,” Neymar, who played in only 20 of their 38 league games, told reporters.
“I thank those who were with me to lift me up. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have played these matches because of these injuries, this knee problem. I need to rest and then we will have this knee surgery.”
He did not provide details on the surgery or a timeline on his expected recovery.
Neymar has not featured for Brazil in two years due to a succession of injuries.
In October, national team head coach Carlo Ancelotti said the forward must regain full fitness if he is to earn a recall to the squad for the June 11 to July 19 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US.
