Pep Guardiola: I will learn from Southampton

Pep Guardiola heaped praise onto Russell Martin and his Southampton side after they were narrowly beaten in Saturday’s Premier League trip to the Etihad.

Erling Haaland’s early goal settled the points, with the striker netting the only goal in the 1-0 win. On another afternoon he could comfortably have walked away with the match ball, but some profligate finishing cost the Norwegian, although he was unfortunate to see a second-half header cleared off the line by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

But this was a performance in which City failed to exert their usual level of control and couldn’t find a second goal that would have calmed some of the nerves inside the Etihad. Southampton defended resolutely and also got on the ball and enjoyed several prolonged periods of possession, an unusual sight from an opposition side, let alone one expected to battle against relegation this season.

Bernardo Silva praised Southampton after the game, while Martin also revealed Phil Foden shared some complimentary words. However, perhaps the most favourable comments came from Guardiola, with the experienced manager saying in a post-match interview that he would learn from his much younger opposite number.

“I'm a big believer for the process to the build-up,” the City boss said on Saturday. “I prefer the players get the ball to the feet, not the teeth. 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 complement. I'm sure I will learn. 

“Every game is a battle, it’s so difficult. I don’t have any complaints about my team because when the opponent is good you have to accept it. This is what happened.”

While Southampton managed just five shots all afternoon - and only two on target - they did manage to amass over half of the possession in the first half against City. It was a statistic that didn’t surprise Guardiola.

“ It’s not about ‘have the ball and pass the ball’. No, there is work behind that,” he said. “You have to believe it. I had the feeling if at one point you come to the Etihad Stadium and play in that way, it is because you are a big believer in what you are doing. 

“For me, the good managers have an idea and fight for that. The results can confuse and when you don't have results you want to change and when you change there are no guarantees it gets better. 

“I still learn because when I watch the game I go ‘look what happened with this and that’. Maybe in the future we can use it. As a manager in my career for 14/15 years, I learn a lot from opponents.”

Saturday’s win means City moved top of the table - at least until Liverpool play on Sunday - and they maintained their unbeaten start to the season. Guardiola’s side have also now gone over two years without losing a home game in all competitions, a run that extends to 52 games.