JAKARTA - Boasting after slaughtering the 2019-2020 Premier League champions, Liverpool had four goals without reply on Thursday last week, Manchseter City fell at Southampton. However, a manager usually has a reason. What is that?
After losing 0-1 in Week 33 of the Premier League without spectators amid the COVID-19 pandemic at St Stadium Mary's, Sunday evening, July 5, Guardiola's defense. He said, it was difficult to beat a team whose 10 players occupied the penalty area for most of the match.
"We played very well showing character and the will to win until the end,"
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
"With 10 Southampton players in their own penalty area, it is difficult," added the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona coach as quoted from the official Man City website.
Match statistics show Guardiola's boys controlled more than 73 percent of the ball during the game. They also fired no less than 26 attempted shots, which unfortunately did not produce results.
On the other hand, even though he didn't have many chances, Che Adams was quite careful to read the carelessness of goalkeeper Ederson Moraes. He fired a speculative shot not far from the center of the field to score the winning goal for the Saints.
Trust the process. ⏳ @SouthamptonFC pic.twitter.com/CQkClJJhP2
- Ché Adams (@CheAdams_) July 5, 2020
"This match is like a scenario that often happens this season, one mistake and the opponent punished us," said Guardiola.
"After that, we created a lot of chances, but like I said they had 10 players standing up to block the ball," he stressed.
FULL-TIME | Southampton take the three points ... 🔴 1-0 🔵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/ggjhBkqc5Y
- Manchester City (@ManCity) July 5, 2020
In fact, Guardiola's words are not without evidence. Southampton's most fertile striker, Danny Ings, only stepped in to help his team's defense in last night's match. He even made a crucial sweep to block Raheem Sterling's shot in front of the home goal.
With this result, Man City remain in second place in the standings and 23 points behind champions Liverpool. The Reds, who won 2-0 over Aston Villa, are increasingly likely to overtake The Citizens' record for the biggest season-ending margin of 19 points in 2017-2018.
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