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Manchester City supervisor Pep Guardiola admitted his aspect can not lose video games within the method they did in taking place 1-Zero at Southampton on Sunday if they’re to take the Premier League title again from Liverpool subsequent season. Manchester City misplaced for the ninth time within the league this season as Che Adams’s spectacular first Southampton purpose condemned Guardiola’s males to defeat regardless of having fun with 74 per cent possession and 26 pictures at purpose. “We played really well, but it was a little bit the resume of this season. We make one mistake, they punish us,” mentioned Guardiola.
“We lost a lot of games and losing a lot of games you cannot compete to win Premier Leagues.
“We want to enhance as a result of it occurred many instances this season.”
Just four days ago City showed what they are capable of when at their best by thrashing newly-crowned champions Liverpool 4-0.
But defeat on the south coast sees the Reds regain their 23-point lead at the top of the table.
Guardiola, though, insisted his plan to get back on top does not involve a summer spending spree on new players.
“No, I do not suppose so,” added the Catalan when asked if new signings were the key to a change in fortunes.
“I feel we performed good. The need, the character to play till the top was there, we put Southampton with 10 gamers within the penalty spot, so we did rather well.
“When you review the games and the chances we created you cannot do more. I like the way we played but it is not enough.”
Adams has endured a nightmare run in entrance of purpose since a 15 million kilos (USD 18.7 million) transfer from Birmingham a 12 months in the past.
But on his 30th look for Southampton, he caught City goalkeeper Ederson stranded properly exterior his space from absolutely 40 yards out.
Guardiola had made six adjustments from the rout over Liverpool with Kevin De Bruyne amongst these dropping to the bench.
Even with out the sensible Belgian, City nonetheless created sufficient probabilities to win comfortably however had been solely denied by some impressed goalkeeping by Alex McCarthy and wayward ending.
Gabriel Jesus has did not take his probability within the absence of the injured Sergio Aguero in current weeks and blazed over with the purpose gaping from Joao Cancelo’s cross earlier than Fernandinho struck the submit and McCarthy made the primary of a string of saves from David Silva’s highly effective header.
City continued to dominate after the break as McCarthy unfold himself brilliantly to avoid wasting from David Silva earlier than Bernardo Silva’s goalbound effort was deflected large.
De Bruyne and the in-form Phil Foden had been launched on the hour mark, however nonetheless the hosts’ defence held agency to maintain City scoreless for simply the fourth time this season.
“When you want to take something against such an opponent you have to run more, sprint more, fight more, be brave and also have a little bit of luck,” mentioned Southampton coach Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Saints had been marooned within the backside three when the perimeters final met in a 2-1 City win in November, per week after they suffered a Premier League file 9-Zero house defeat to Leicester.
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But the Southampton board’s backing of Hasenhuttl, who lately signed a contract extension to 2024, has been absolutely justified because the Austrian’s aspect climb to 13th and will but be the beneficiaries of City’s misfortune.
Southampton are simply 5 factors off eighth place which can be sufficient for a spot in subsequent season’s Europa League ought to City’s attraction towards a two-season ban from European competitors not achieve success later this month.
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