“In our hands” – Guardiola takes positives from Southampton’s sudden road in Manchester City

Pep Guardiola took the positives from Manchester City 0-0 in the slope Southampton, which could be a harmful setback in the Champions League football race.

City Eryling Halland welcomed the return of an ankle injury, but he and his teammates were frustrated as Southampton kept their first clean sheets since December to ensure that they will not link the Premier League points in Derby County.

Southampton will now finish a miserable season with at least 12 points, but at the other end of the table, the result was of greater importance, as the city lost the opportunity to reach second place and offer a boost for its competitors in the race for the qualification places for the five European Champions League.

City had gave up six points from Nottingham Forest in sixth place with the expected victory. Instead, Forrest can move inside a point of the city by beating Leicester City on Sunday. If there is a winner in the huge match at St. James’ Park between Newcastle United in fourth place and Chelsea, they will jump the city to third.

While he was clearly frustrated by Southampton’s approach, Guardiola was relatively optimistic as he evaluated his team’s performance.

“It is difficult. We had opportunities, but unfortunately we could not register,” Guardiola told BBC Sport.

((Southampton) played to defend and defend time and waste time. We take this point, it’s in our hands.

(We) did not expect them to defend their depth. We were defensively well, but unfortunately, we missed the last measures.

“This point was really important.”

Defender Robin Dias was more confirming in his criticism from Southampton.

“It is frustrated to play against a team like them. They are not even trying to play, just wasting time in the entire game,” said Dias.

“I don’t even feel that they want to play the game or win the game. They just sit. We have tried every way. We had opportunities but we did not score. That’s what it is.”

Halland played the full match upon his return, as City sought a decisive goal, and the importance of this search for a break, which led to a change in Guardiola’s plan.

Guardiola added: “Halland did not expect to play as any minutes, but the way the game played we need people in the box.”