3 hours ago
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Rúben Dias tore into Southampton for what he felt were anti-football tactics, laying bare his frustration after Manchester City were held to a 0-0 draw here. Southampton had just two shots – both off target – and 28% of the ball as they ground out a result that means City are still not assured of a top-five finish and Champions League qualification.
Dias raged about Southampton’s use of the dark arts, including time-wasting, although his manager, Pep Guardiola, had no complaints, saying it was simply up to City to find a way through. “It’s frustrating,” Dias said. “In a moment like this every point matters. And it is frustrating to play against a team like this.
“They don’t even try anything, they just sit and they don’t even want to win the game. They just want to be there. It is no good for the show and no good for themselves. It is no good for anyone but it is what it is.”
Dias referenced the time-wasting of the Southampton goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale. “I saw a completely different team the last time we played them [in the 1-0 home win in October]. I don’t know how many times players went on the floor to try and waste time and waste time and waste time. It kills the rhythm of the game.
“We always have to do better but it is not easy to get into a team that behaves this way. We must be better and be more dynamic and quicker. We need to be better.”
Guardiola was phlegmatic, disagreeing with Dias. “No, no, no. Absolutely not … they can do whatever they want,” he said of Southampton. For many years here we faced teams in different approaches and they decided [how] they have to play. It’s on us to break them.
“Many times teams have played five in the back or six and the striker has gone on our holding midfielder and there’s no space … it’s difficult. You have to break it and we had the chances. We did not concede one shot on target and they didn’t do much but we have to accept the way they play. It belongs to Simon [Rusk, the Southampton interim manager] and his assistant coaches. I don’t agree with Rúben. We have to accept it.”
Rusk, who took caretaker charge for the second time this season after the sacking of Ivan Juric on 7 April, could be proud of the draw for several reasons. It took Southampton to 12 points, meaning the bottom club have moved clear of Derby’s Premier League record low tally for a season of 11, set in 2007-08.
“We did want to frustrate City,” Rusk said. “It’s a back-handed compliment [from Dias]. If we go toe-to-toe with City we lose. We’ve got a fifth of their budget. We have to find our way and that’s OK.”
