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Man City’s Ruben Dias criticises Southampton for their tactics after goalless draw at St Mary’s

Man City’s Ruben Dias criticises Southampton for their tactics after a goalless draw at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon.

The Manchester City defender expressed frustration with Southampton’s defensive tactics, hit out at their lack of ambition, and blamed external factors like a “dry pitch” for hindering City’s performance.

Southampton, already relegated, adopted a deep defensive block, managing only two off-target shots and 28.7% possession while securing a point to surpass Derby County’s record-low 11 points in a Premier League season.

City dominated with 72% possession and 26 shots but failed to break through, with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale making key saves, including one from Dias’ header. The 0-0 draw dented City’s hopes of securing a top-five finish for Champions League qualification.

However, City manager Pep Guardiola disagreed with Dias, defending Southampton’s right to play defensively.

Southampton’s interim manager Simon Rusk viewed Dias’ comments as a “backhanded compliment,” noting that going “toe-to-toe” with City would have led to defeat given their budget disparity.

Southampton’s groundsman also hit back at Dias’ pitch complaints, posting on Twitter that the pitch was well-maintained, cheekily telling Dias, “You know nothing about being a grounds person.”

The club’s official Twitter account mocked City, claiming they earned a “point without even trying to play.”

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias: “It’s frustrating, obviously, in a moment like this every point matters. And it is obviously 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.”

He continued: “I saw a completely different team the last time we played. 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. Loads of people everywhere, we must be better and be more dynamic and quicker. We need to be better.”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola told BBC Sport: “Difficult. We had chances but unfortunately couldn’t score. [Southampton were] playing to defend and defend and defend and waste time. We take that point still, it’s in our hands.

“Didn’t expect them to defend so deep. Defensive we were so good but unfortunately we missed the last actions.

“He [Erling Haaland] didn’t expect to play as any minutes but the way the game was played we needed people in the box.

“That point was really important.”

Pep Guardiola said, per Sky Sports: “The second half was much better but they defended so deep. I didn’t expect it. We had four or five chances and unfortunately we could not score.

“We could not do it. They were so defensive and defended so deep.

“We have three games left, three finals. Today was a massive game for us. We have been on an incredible run. It is always difficult. There were 11 players in the 18-yard box, it is difficult.

“It is what it is.”

Guardiola took a different view, saying he respected his opposite number’s approach to the game, and stated that it was up to City to counter Simon Rusk’s approach.

“No, no, no. Absolutely not,” he said in his post-match press conference when questioned if he was unhappy with Southampton’s approach. “They can do whatever they want. For many years here, we faced teams in different approaches, and they decided they have to play. It’s on us to break them.

“In those terms, 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. When you review the chances for nothing, we could not score and it happened.

“Now we prepare the [FA Cup] final and now it is next time and Fulham.

“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] and his assistant coaches. I don’t agree with Ruben, we have to accept it.”

Southampton interim boss Simon Rusk told BBC Sport: “We wanted to be as strong as possible towards the end of season. We did that with abundance. We can be proud of it.

“Against top sides you have to absorb lots of pressure. Concentration levels are key. We did that well. We stll found ourselves in one or two dangerous moments we could have capitalised on.

“We were prepared. If I take last Saturday out of it, more of the same [performances] but we found a little bit more.”

On avoiding Derby’s record low points: “I didn’t know much about it, it was hardly mentioned(!) I understood the importance of it but it wasn’t something I was focusing on. I was focusing on performances, improving and the environment [of the team].”

Rusk said on Dias’ comments, per Daily Echo: “Firstly, what a fantastic player he is and what a great football club (Manchester City) are.

“It’s frustrating, isn’t it? And that was our aim. We did want to be frustrating today, and we did want to make it difficult.

“It’s a bit of a back-handed compliment, really. And I think in the heat of battle, I believe intelligence is looking at what’s in front of you.

“We looked at being adaptable and what you do to get the best out of the situation. We had to find a different way.

“If we go toe-to-toe with Man City today, we lose. We can’t go toe-to-toe with Man City. I think we’ve got, I’m guessing, one-fifth of their budget.

“They’ve got a pool of players that are some of the best in the world. So we have to find our way, and that’s OK.

“I fully appreciate that it might not look like a beautiful game, but some of the defending was excellent.

“There were high levels of concentration, and good levels of defending in and around your box is an underrated quality, perhaps. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do, and we’ve done it well today.”

This is how fans reacted as Man City’s Ruben Dias criticises Southampton for their tactics after the goalless draw at St Mary’s…

@Toothy73: Ruben’s salty tears will keep that well watered for us.

@StuartHaines: I’ve seen worse carpets. Bit too salty eh Ruben 🤣🤣

@therealemjaypea: I get players will be frustrated after a result like that but it never stops being funny that they come out and basically say how dare they play in a way that doesn’t suit us. How dare they make it difficult for us instead of flooding forwards so we can stick 3 or 4 past them.

@oclark_1: Just as bad as Laporte a few seasons ago! They really don’t like St Mary’s 😀

@noelmickedy: This player mentality needs to change, sorry Ruben that Southampton aren’t state owned and cannot spend 200 million on defenders… 🤡

@wozwebs: Aw didums, they didn’t let you win. Poor thing. Get to fuck

@Mighty_Reds92: Criticising little Southampton for defending well against your billion pounds squad that was not able to create a single good chance, well that is classless

@harryxafc: Yes, they’re supposed to play expansive football and open themselves up to concede 4 or 5 to your billion pound squad. Cry more.

@TAIEpodcast: This interview is embarrassing. You’ve been shite all season. Southampton have been near enough the worst team ever to grace the PL. what do you expect them to do!? Attack and leave themselves wide open!? Fair play Saints. Great performance. Pep and City are done.

@nikola_b27: Poor take from Dias. No matter how the other team play you try and win the game try and score, put in the effort. Poor poor excuse

@ClarkBassett: Does my head in this type of shit post press conference chat. Annoyed they didn’t play a way that makes the game easy for you 😂 shut up ffs. I hope all the sides that come up next season go full low block and actually make a season of it rather than relegation football

@HLTCO: Southampton had ELEVEN points going into today against a club who’ve been the gold standard in English football over the last few years. If they’d “tried to play” they’d have been handing the points over by definition. It’s such a ridiculous way to look at a 0-0 draw.

@CharlesDagnall: It will forever be lost on me that the team worth eleventy gazillion pounds get annoyed when a team worth 23p doesn’t go all out attack. Be better.

@AlexLeTissier: And yet you couldn’t score against us embarrassing for YOU.

@MattBateman1991: And people wonder why we hate these teams? Oh boohoo the team bottom of the league didn’t play how you wanted them to play and you weren’t good enough to break them down boohoo. Moaning arse.

@George_deem: Utterly classless. Yes mate one of the worst teams in premier league history and we’ll come out and try and ‘play’ against a team that have spent a billion quid over the last few seasons. Dick

@Tom_Greggan: Fucking pathetic attitude. What did he expect them to do? If you want to win, be fucking better

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