Pep Guardiola spent most of his post-match analysis on Saturday singing the praises of Southampton and Russell Martin. Manchester City had just beaten Saints to move top of the Premier League, but couldn't find a killer second goal to make the win safe after Erling Haaland's early opener.
Despite struggling in the relegation zone, Southampton were brave and had chances to score, even recording more possession than City in the first half.
They would end the game with just 42 per cent of the ball, showing City's dominance in the second half without scoring. But that didn't stop Guardiola raving about Southampton's performance and how they forced his side to run far more than he would like. ALSO READ: Man City player ratings vs Southampton with three 8/10s as Erling Haaland scores ALSO READ: What Bernardo Silva did at full time speaks volumes in strange Man City win over Southampton "If they had more possession it's because they are good," he said. "If Erling didn't run or Matheus, Savio, Phil, Kova, Bernie [that is a problem].
But we run incredible today. We don't like it - but it's not because we were bad. It's because they were good. "When it happens, accept it and learn.
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