Pep Guardiola lavished praise on Southampton following Manchester City’s 1-0 victory. The win allowed City to overtake Liverpool for the top spot, with Erling Haaland’s first-half strike sealing the points. Haaland’s goal kept Southampton winless, with Russell Martin’s side remaining at the bottom of the table. Despite their struggles, Guardiola was complimentary of the South Coast club, noting they are “one of the best teams in the Premier League” in a specific area.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, the Spaniard said, “The way they played, they are so demanding. They defend with the ball. You can defend with the ball, and they are really good [at it], one of the best in the Premier League.” Guardiola admitted Southampton didn’t create many chances, whereas City had several opportunities, though they couldn’t score a second goal. He credited the Saints for a challenging game, saying, “It wasn’t because we were sloppy or flat, I don’t have that feeling. I think we were there, and sometimes they were good. We have to accept that.”
Southampton now sit at the bottom of the table with just one point after eight losses in their opening nine matches upon their return to the top flight. However, manager Russell Martin remains optimistic, expressing pride in his players and confidence that they will learn from this latest defeat.
“I’m proud of them. The courage they had and the build-up was incredible. We had some big moments, so I’m proud of that as well,” Martin said.
He emphasized the courage his players showed, stating, “I think we had more [chances] than most coming here. The level of courage and intensity to run and play football in our way was incredible.” Martin hopes his team can take belief from this performance, highlighting their defensive efforts and resilience after going down early. He added, “If we are going to lose, at least we will do it in a way that we can be proud of.”